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Biofilm and sediment phases as key components of microbial community dynamics within secondary drinking water distribution systems
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Despite its title referencing drinking water distribution systems and microbiome dynamics, this paper studies how bacterial communities in rooftop water storage tanks in Uruguay change over time across water, biofilm, and sediment — not microplastic pollution. It examines seasonal shifts in microbial diversity and antibiotic resistance pathways using metagenomic tools and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.
Abstract Background Secondary drinking water distribution systems (SDWDS), particularly rooftop storage tanks, are critical components of water supply infrastructure in many regions, yet the ecological processes governing microbial community development within these systems remain poorly characterized. Here we present a year-long, phase-resolved metagenomic study of an operational full-scale SDWDS in Uruguay to assess how environmental conditions and surface materials are associated with microbiome dynamics across bulk water, biofilm and sediment phases. We integrated amplicon sequencing, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) metagenomics, culture-based microbiology and physicochemical analyses over a one-year period. Results Microbial communities associated with biofilm and sediment phases consistently exhibited higher richness and diversity than bulk water, with marked seasonal variation. Biofilms formed on concrete and polyethylene surfaces followed distinct successional trajectories, indicating material-associated patterns in community development. Seasonal increases in temperature were associated with greater similarity in community composition across phases, while functional richness remained comparatively stable over time. Functional pathways related to energy production, stress response, and antibiotic resistance showed phase- and time-dependent enrichment, particularly in mature biofilms. Across the system, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Bacteroidota were persistent taxa. Temperature and pH were the primary variables associated with temporal shifts in water-phase microbial communities, with chlorine residuals contributing to additional variation. Conclusions Together, these findings provide in situ ecological insight into microbial succession and phase-specific community dynamics in drinking water storage systems, highlighting the importance of long-term observations in real-world engineered environments.
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This review examines how microplastics in drinking water and wastewater treatment plants develop biofilms that harbor dangerous bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. The biofilm-coated microplastics can protect pathogens from disinfection processes, allowing them to survive treatment and potentially reach tap water. This raises concerns about microplastics serving as vehicles for antibiotic-resistant bacteria in our water supply.
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This scoping review examines how microplastics enter and move through water distribution networks, their role as surfaces for bacterial attachment, and the mechanisms by which they amplify public health threats from waterborne pathogens in drinking water systems.
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Researchers found that microplastics in stagnant drinking water accelerated chlorine decay and promoted microbial regrowth, with microplastic-associated biofilms harboring opportunistic pathogens and shifting microbial community composition toward potentially harmful species.
Factors Impacting Microplastic Biofilm Community and Biological Risks Posed by Microplastics in Drinking Water Sources
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Exposing microplastics from two rivers to controlled conditions for 21 days showed that bacteria preferentially colonize microplastic surfaces over open water, forming distinct biofilm communities with higher diversity and enrichment of potential pathogens including Mycobacterium. These microplastic-associated biofilms pose a dual risk to drinking water safety: carrying waterborne pathogens and potentially evading conventional water treatment processes.
Microplastics in fresh- and wastewater are potential contributors to antibiotic resistance - A minireview
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Researchers reviewed the link between microplastic pollution and the spread of antibiotic resistance in freshwater environments, finding that microplastic surfaces host unique bacterial communities enriched in antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the resistance genes they can share with other microbes. The close packing of bacteria in these plastic-surface biofilms may accelerate the spread of drug-resistant pathogens through drinking water sources, though the full health implications remain poorly understood.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.