Haloacetic acid-degrading bacterial communities in drinking water systems as determined by cultivation and by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism of PCR-amplified haloacid dehalogenase gene fragments

Abstract

Aims: To characterize the HAA‐degrading bacteria in drinking water systems. Methods and Results: Haloacetic acid (HAA)‐degrading bacteria were analysed in drinking water systems by cultivation and by a novel application of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (tRFLP). Substantial similarities were observed among the tRFLP patterns of dehI and dehII gene fragments in drinking water samples obtained from three different cities (Minneapolis, MN; St Paul, MN; Bucharest, Romania) and from one biologically active granular activated carbon filter (Hershey, PA). The dominant fragment in the tRFLP profiles of dehI genes from the drinking water samples matched the pattern from an Afipia sp. that was previously isolated from drinking water. In contrast, the dominant fragment in the tRFLP profiles of dehII genes did not match any previously characterized dehII gene fragment. PCR cloning was used to characterize this gene fragment, which had <65% nucleotide sequence identity with any previously characterized dehII gene. Conclusions: Afipia spp. are an appropriate model organism for studying the biodegradation of HAAs in drinking water distribution systems as encoded by dehI genes; the organism that harbours the most prominent dehII gene in drinking water has yet to be cultivated and identified. Significance and Impact of the Study: The development of a novel application of tRFLP targeting dehI and dehII genes could be broadly useful in understanding HAA‐degrading bacteria in numerous environments.

Matrix effects of milk, dairy factory wastewater and soil water on the determination of disinfection by‐products and para‐cresol using solid‐phase microextraction

“…However, it may also be due to a reduction in HAAMe in the wastewaters from microbial action which has been reported to occur in drinking water distribution pipes (Grigorescu et al . ); it is noted that a similar degradation in response was also found for the CAR‐PDMS fibre when analysing the supernatant wastewater. For the PDMS HS‐SPME samples, all HAAMe in the soil water matrix were detected, and a similar mean was recorded to those measured using CAR‐PDMS HS‐SPME (i.e.…”

“…) or via water used to process dairy products (Grigorescu et al . ). HAA are disinfection by‐products commonly found after water that contains organic compounds is disinfected with chlorinated or brominated compounds (Loos and Barceló ).…”

“…These compounds may come either directly from cows [e.g. para-cresol has been identified from cow waste (Shaw et al 2007)], from the equipment used to process dairy products (Kinney et al 2006) or via water used to process dairy products (Grigorescu et al 2012). HAA are disinfection by-products commonly found after water that contains organic compounds is disinfected with chlorinated or brominated compounds (Loos and Barcel o 2001).…”

Dechlorination of chloroacetic acids by electrocatalytic reduction using activated silver electrodes in aqueous solutions of different pH

“…Due to their high toxicity, persistence, and potential carcinogenicity to water consumers, their disposal has become a major environmental concern. A large number of techniques have been suggested for the treatment of drinking water containing HAAs, among which are biodegradation [2,3], photolysis assisted with ultrasound [4] or microwave [5] and reductive processes using zero valent iron [6] or iron-based bimetal [7]. Unfortunately, these techniques are difficult to adopt for the practical disposal of HAAs, in the coming years, due to their respective drawbacks (high expense or poor dechlorination efficiency).…”

Enhanced degradation of haloacid by heterologous expression in related Burkholderia species

“…Biodegradation by microorganism is relatively safe and cost effective. Moreover, haloacid‐degrading bacteria can be identified in the natural environment (Grigorescu et al, ). Microbial degradation of haloacid is achieved by dehalogenase which cleaves the halogen‐carbon bond hydrolytically (Hardman, ).…”