Vertical stratification of the water microbiome in an electric water heater tank: implications for premise plumbing opportunistic pathogens.

ABSTRACT: Hot water systems are the most frequent environment associated with the prevalence and growth of opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs). Previous studies identified water heaters as a source of waterborne diseases and concluded that design variables may contribute to their prevalence. A multifaceted approach was used to investigate the vertical stratification of the microbiome and selected OPPPs in an electric water heater tank connected to a home plumbing system simulator. Results show that the microbiome is highly diverse with evidence of temperature stratification and temporal structuring influenced by the partial drainage of the tank. Representatives of the Mycobacterium spp. were the most prevalent taxa, followed by Legionella spp., and a relatively low prevale

SUBMITTER: Gomez-Alvarez V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11880899 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature