Differences in Microbial Communities in Drinking Water from Conventional Electronic and Manual Taps in Dependence on Stagnation and Flushing Cycles
Water taps can be a reservoir for microorganisms and pose a risk for contamination and infection. In this work, water samples from different common taps were examined to determine the influence of certain parameters on the microbial load of drinking water. Methods: Four different types of taps were...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/4/784 |
| _version_ | 1797617694865883136 |
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| author | Anja E. Knecht Jörg Ettenauer Thomas Posnicek Martin Taschl Marcus Helmecke Hannah Haller Stefanie Gölß Martin Brandl |
| author_facet | Anja E. Knecht Jörg Ettenauer Thomas Posnicek Martin Taschl Marcus Helmecke Hannah Haller Stefanie Gölß Martin Brandl |
| author_sort | Anja E. Knecht |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Water taps can be a reservoir for microorganisms and pose a risk for contamination and infection. In this work, water samples from different common taps were examined to determine the influence of certain parameters on the microbial load of drinking water. Methods: Four different types of taps were installed along the same water pipe. Over a period of six months, water samples were taken at specific intervals and analyzed for their colony-forming units (CFU/mL) and for the presence of the water pathogens <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> and <i>Legionella pneumophilia</i>. Two different flushing configurations were investigated: Setup A: the same flush intervals for all taps once a day to determine differences based on type, size and mode of operation. Experimental setup B: different flush cycles for manual and electronic taps to investigate the effects of water stagnation in the tap and whether electronic taps with automatic flushes improve water quality. Results: No <i>Legionella pneumophilia</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> were found during the study period. The size of the tap has a great influence on the number of CFU/mL—a maximum of 330 CFU/mL was found in the smallest tap and 1080 CFU/mL in the largest tap, with a significant difference. Stagnation in the tap leads to a significantly higher number of CFU/mL. The results of this work can be used as a basis for the development of innovative taps. There are many possibilities in terms of materials, tap size and intelligent action algorithms—such as automatic flushing—to maintain the quality of our drinking water in a resource-saving way. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:59:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-227c336921904df8b4ff82a806433eb6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:59:27Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-227c336921904df8b4ff82a806433eb62023-11-16T23:53:27ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412023-02-0115478410.3390/w15040784Differences in Microbial Communities in Drinking Water from Conventional Electronic and Manual Taps in Dependence on Stagnation and Flushing CyclesAnja E. Knecht0Jörg Ettenauer1Thomas Posnicek2Martin Taschl3Marcus Helmecke4Hannah Haller5Stefanie Gölß6Martin Brandl7Department for Integrated Sensor Systems, University for Continuing Education Krems, Dr. Karl Dorrek Straße 30, 3500 Krems, AustriaDepartment for Integrated Sensor Systems, University for Continuing Education Krems, Dr. Karl Dorrek Straße 30, 3500 Krems, AustriaDepartment for Integrated Sensor Systems, University for Continuing Education Krems, Dr. Karl Dorrek Straße 30, 3500 Krems, AustriaWimTec, Freidegg 50, 3325 Ferschnitz, AustriaTranshelsa GmbH, Hirtenberger Straße 31, 2544 Leobersdorf, AustriaDepartment for Integrated Sensor Systems, University for Continuing Education Krems, Dr. Karl Dorrek Straße 30, 3500 Krems, AustriaDepartment for Integrated Sensor Systems, University for Continuing Education Krems, Dr. Karl Dorrek Straße 30, 3500 Krems, AustriaDepartment for Integrated Sensor Systems, University for Continuing Education Krems, Dr. Karl Dorrek Straße 30, 3500 Krems, AustriaWater taps can be a reservoir for microorganisms and pose a risk for contamination and infection. In this work, water samples from different common taps were examined to determine the influence of certain parameters on the microbial load of drinking water. Methods: Four different types of taps were installed along the same water pipe. Over a period of six months, water samples were taken at specific intervals and analyzed for their colony-forming units (CFU/mL) and for the presence of the water pathogens <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> and <i>Legionella pneumophilia</i>. Two different flushing configurations were investigated: Setup A: the same flush intervals for all taps once a day to determine differences based on type, size and mode of operation. Experimental setup B: different flush cycles for manual and electronic taps to investigate the effects of water stagnation in the tap and whether electronic taps with automatic flushes improve water quality. Results: No <i>Legionella pneumophilia</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> were found during the study period. The size of the tap has a great influence on the number of CFU/mL—a maximum of 330 CFU/mL was found in the smallest tap and 1080 CFU/mL in the largest tap, with a significant difference. Stagnation in the tap leads to a significantly higher number of CFU/mL. The results of this work can be used as a basis for the development of innovative taps. There are many possibilities in terms of materials, tap size and intelligent action algorithms—such as automatic flushing—to maintain the quality of our drinking water in a resource-saving way.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/4/784drinking waterwater qualitytap waterwater supply systemwater installationflushing |
| spellingShingle | Anja E. Knecht Jörg Ettenauer Thomas Posnicek Martin Taschl Marcus Helmecke Hannah Haller Stefanie Gölß Martin Brandl Differences in Microbial Communities in Drinking Water from Conventional Electronic and Manual Taps in Dependence on Stagnation and Flushing Cycles Water drinking water water quality tap water water supply system water installation flushing |
| title | Differences in Microbial Communities in Drinking Water from Conventional Electronic and Manual Taps in Dependence on Stagnation and Flushing Cycles |
| title_full | Differences in Microbial Communities in Drinking Water from Conventional Electronic and Manual Taps in Dependence on Stagnation and Flushing Cycles |
| title_fullStr | Differences in Microbial Communities in Drinking Water from Conventional Electronic and Manual Taps in Dependence on Stagnation and Flushing Cycles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differences in Microbial Communities in Drinking Water from Conventional Electronic and Manual Taps in Dependence on Stagnation and Flushing Cycles |
| title_short | Differences in Microbial Communities in Drinking Water from Conventional Electronic and Manual Taps in Dependence on Stagnation and Flushing Cycles |
| title_sort | differences in microbial communities in drinking water from conventional electronic and manual taps in dependence on stagnation and flushing cycles |
| topic | drinking water water quality tap water water supply system water installation flushing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/4/784 |
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