Groundwater in the Mooi River catchment is prone to mining, agricultural, municipal and septic tank pollution. In this study physico-chemical and microbiological parameters were determined using appropriate methods. Bacterial isolates were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing (heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria and amoeba-resistant bacteria (ARB)) and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (Escherichia coli). Antibiotic resistance tests were also performed. Physico-chemical parameters were generally within target water quality ranges for drinking water. HPC bacteria ranged between 10(5) and 10(7) colony-forming units (cfu)/ml. E. coli were enumerated from Trimpark, School and Cemetery. The Blaauwbank borehole was negative for faecal streptococci. Pseudomonas spp. were most abundant in the bulk water. Opportunistic pathogens isolated included Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Alcaligenes, Flavobacterium, Bacillus cereus and Mycobacterium spp. Varying patterns of antibiotic resistance were observed. Most HPC bacterial isolates were resistant to cephalothin and/or amoxicillin and a few were resistant to erythromycin and streptomycin. Pseudomonas spp. was also the most abundant ARB. Other ARBs included Alcaligenes faecalis, Ochrobactrum sp. and Achromobacter sp. ARBs were resistant to streptomycin, chloramphenicol, cephalothin, and/or amoxicillin compared to HPCs. The presence of E. coli and ARB in these groundwater sources indicates potential human health risks. These risks should be further investigated and quantified, and groundwater should be treated before use.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wh.2014.226 | DOI Listing |
J Environ Sci (China)
June 2025
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China. Electronic address:
The effects of disinfectants and plasmid-based antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) on the growth of microorganisms and the plasmid-mediated transfer of ARGs in the water and biofilm of the drinking water distribution system under simulated conditions were explored. The heterotrophic plate count of the water in reactors with 0.1 mg/L NaClO and NHCl was higher than in the control groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Biol Eng
November 2024
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, Canada.
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assays have a faster turnaround time and higher sensitivity than traditional cultivation methods for microbial monitoring. Challenges implementing ATP testing include incompatibility with chlorine quenching agents and hold time sensitivity, which are not well-studied. Chlorinated distribution system samples were collected from two Canadian utilities, Metro Vancouver (n = 40 samples) and Halifax Water (n = 283).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrob Cell Fact
October 2024
Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta, 34517, Egypt.
Background: The world society is still suffering greatly from waterborne infections, with developing countries bearing most of the morbidity and death burden, especially concerning young children. Moreover, microbial resistance is one of the most prevalent global problems that extends the need for self-medication and the healing period, or it may be linked to treatment failure that results in further hospitalization, higher healthcare expenses, and higher mortality rates. Thus, innovative synthesis of new antimicrobial materials is required to preserve the environment and enhance human health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBioresour Technol
November 2024
Cell Factory Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Department of Environmental Biotechnology, KRIBB School of Biotechnology, University of Science & Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea; ASK LABS, KRIBB BVC Center 109, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:
Water Res
November 2024
KWR Water Research Institute, Groningenhaven 7, Nieuwegein, 3433 PE, the Netherlands.
There is a risk of contamination by (pathogenic) microorganisms from the outside environment into the drinking water during maintenance or pipe breaches in the drinking water distribution system (DWDS) and, consequently, the drinking water distributed to consumers may result in possible detrimental effects on public health. Traditional time-consuming microbiological testing is, therefore, performed to confirm drinking water is not microbially contaminated. This is done by culturing methods of the faecal indicators Escherichia coli, intestinal enterococci and the technical parameters coliform bacteria and heterotrophic plate counts at 22 °C (HPC22).
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