title: Longitudinal and Source-to-Tap New Orleans, LA, U.S.A. Drinking Water Microbiology.
abstract: The two municipal drinking water systems of New Orleans, LA, U.S.A. were sampled to compare the microbiology of independent systems that treat the same surface water from the Mississippi River. To better understand temporal trends and sources of microbiology delivered to taps, these treatment plants and distribution systems were subjected to source-to-tap sampling over four years. Both plants employ traditional treatment by chloramination, applied during or after settling, followed by filtration before distribution in a warm, low water age system. Longitudinal samples indicated microbiology to have stability both spatially and temporally, and between treatment plants and distribution systems. Disinfection had the greatest impact on microbial composition, which was further refined by filtration and influenced by distribution and premise plumbing. Actinobacteria spp. exhibited trends with treatment. In particular, Mycobacterium spp., very low in finished waters, occurred idiosyncratically at high levels in some tap waters, indicating distribution and/or premise plumbing as main contributors of mycobacteria. Legionella spp., another genus containing potential opportunistic pathogens, also occurred ubiquitously. Source water microbiology was most divergent from tap water, and each step of treatment brought samples more closely similar to tap waters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado , Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.
authors.forename: Natalie M
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2876-6721
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado , Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.
authors.forename: Eric P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Holinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado , Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease, University of Colorado School of Medicine , Anschutz Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States.
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine , Anschutz Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States.
authors.forename: J Kirk
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine , Anschutz Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado , Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.
authors.forename: Norman R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Pace
mesh_terms: D004203:Disinfection; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000382:microbiology; D007875:Legionella; D055820:New Orleans; D014871:Water Microbiology; D018508:Water Purification; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water