Microbial Diversity and their Biofilm Formation Potential in Pipes of Water Distribution System

Microbes are ubiquitous in surface as well as in ground water and some of them can make their way into potable water distribution systems. Contaminated soil with human and animal fecal matter, ill-maintained water and sewage pipelines, poor sanitation and personal hygiene are the main factors responsible for the presence of microbial pathogens in the drinking water. The presence of water-borne microbes in the potable drinking water systems determines its quality. Common microbes present in contaminated water are Shigella, Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas sp, Salmonella sp etc. The water-borne pathogens that reside and reproduce in water distribution system causes infection of gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, skin, and lymph nodes. When these pathogens enter into the water distribution system pipelines they form biofilms. The formation of biofilm is a key component in microbial studies. Biofilm is the sessile aggregation of bacterial cells that adhere to each other on living or non-living surfaces and forms extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The surface physico-chemical properties of both bacteria and substratum were important for the establishment of bacterial adhesion. Bacteria forming biofilms possesses different growth patterns, responds to specific micro-environmental conditions for the formation of structurally complex mature biofilms. In water distribution systems, adhesion of microbes to the water pipelines initiate biofilm formation which in return reduces the quality of potable water and increases the corrosion of pipes.