title: Microbial biogeography of drinking water: patterns in phylogenetic diversity across space and time.
abstract: In this study, we collected water from different locations in 32 drinking water distribution networks in the Netherlands and analysed the spatial and temporal variation in microbial community composition by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. We observed that microbial community compositions of raw source and processed water were very different for each distribution network sampled. In each network, major differences in community compositions were observed between raw and processed water, although community structures of processed water did not differ substantially from end-point tap water. End-point water samples within the same distribution network revealed very similar community structures. Network-specific communities were shown to be surprisingly stable in time. Biofilm communities sampled from domestic water metres varied distinctly between households and showed no resemblance to planktonic communities within the same distribution networks. Our findings demonstrate that high-throughput sequencing provides a powerful and sensitive tool to probe microbial community composition in drinking water distribution systems. Furthermore, this approach can be used to quantitatively compare the microbial communities to match end-point water samples to specific distribution networks. Insight in the ecology of drinking water distribution systems will facilitate the development of effective control strategies that will ensure safe and high-quality drinking water.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Systems Biology Group, TNO, Zeist, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Guus
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roeselers
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Systems Biology Group, TNO, Zeist, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jordy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coolen
authors.affiliation: KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paul W J J
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: van der Wielen
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Systems Biology Group, TNO, Zeist, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marco C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jaspers
authors.affiliation: Vitens, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Adrie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atsma
authors.affiliation: Vitens, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bendert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Graaf
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Systems Biology Group, TNO, Zeist, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schuren
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000235:genetics*; D009426:Netherlands; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D018508:Water Purification; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D060766:Drinking Water; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S