Microbial quality and molecular identification of cultivable microorganisms isolated from an urban drinking water distribution system (Limassol, Cyprus)

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2015-12, Vol.187 (12), p.739-739, Article 739
• Main Authors: Botsaris, George, Kanetis, Loukas, Slaný, Michal, Parpouna, Christiana, Makris, Konstantinos C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acinetobacter; Aeromonas; Agrobacterium; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bacillus; Bacteria; Biofilms; Chlorine; coliform bacteria; Colony Count, Microbial; Corynebacterium; Cyprus; Delftia; Drinking water; Drinking Water - chemistry; Drinking Water - microbiology; E coli; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Enterobacter; Enterococcus; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Households; Humans; Identification; Microbial activity; microbial communities; microbiological quality; Microorganisms; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; plate count; Pseudomonas; Public health; risk; Staphylococcus; tap water; Urban areas; Water analysis; Water distribution; Water distribution systems; Water Microbiology; Water pollution; Water quality; Water sampling; Water shortages; Water Supply
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-015-4957-9

Microorganisms can survive and multiply in aged urban drinking water distribution systems, leading to potential health risks. The objective of this work was to investigate the microbial quality of tap water and molecularly identify its predominant cultivable microorganisms. Tap water samples collected from 24 different households scattered in the urban area of Limassol, Cyprus, were microbiologically tested following standard protocols for coliforms, E. coli, Pseudomonas spp., Enterococcus spp., and total viable count at 22 and 37 °C. Molecular identification was performed on isolated predominant single colonies using 16SrRNA sequencing. Approximately 85 % of the household water samples were contaminated with one or more microorganisms belonging to the genera of Pseudomonas, Corynebacterium, Agrobacterium, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Delftia, Acinetobacter, Enterococcus, Enterobacter, and Aeromonas. However, all samples tested were free from E. coli. This is the first report in Cyprus molecularly confirming specific genera of relevant microbial communities in tap water.