Potable Reuse & Microbial Drinking Water Quality
About
Potable reuse is a necessary strategy to provide water security in regions facing water scarcity and a changing climate. Our group is contributing to the evidence based to support this practice with the aim to ensure against unintended consequences, especially as direct potable reuse moves into the mainstream of engineering practice. One research focus has been characterizing changes to microbial water quality through advanced treatment trains, through studies at pilot and demonstration facilities. A second research focus is characterizing the impacts of this new water source (highly purified wastewater) on the microbial communities in distribution systems. To achieve greater sensitivity to detect changes beyond traditional microbial water quality parameters, we apply advanced monitoring techniques, such as 16S rDNA amplicon and metagenomic sequencing, quantitative PCR, flow cytometry, and ATP analysis. To complement our growing understanding of the drinking water microbiome in potable reuse systems, we apply similar techniques to conventional distributions systems and premise plumbing, including studies to understand the impacts of the pandemic lockdown on water quality in de-occupied buildings.
Selected Publications
Healy, H.G., A. Ehde, A. Bartholow, R.S. Kantor, K.L. Nelson (in review) “Responses of Drinking Water Bulk and Biofilm Microbiota to Elevated Water Age in Bench-Scale Simulated Distribution Systems”. NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes.
Dowdell, K.S., H.D. Greenwald, S. Joshi, M. Grimard-Conea, S. Pitell, Y. Song, C. Ley, et al. (2023) “Legionella Pneumophila Occurrence in Reduced-Occupancy Buildings in 11 Cities during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3EW00278K.
Kennedy, L.C., S.E. Miller, R.S. Kantor, H. Greenwald, M.J. Adelman, H. Seshan, P. Russell, and K.L. Nelson. (2023) “Stay in the Loop: Lessons Learned about the Microbial Water Quality in Pipe Loops Transitioned from Conventional to Direct Potable Reuse Water.” Environmental Science: Water Research & TechnologyI; 9(5): 1436–54. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EW00858K.
Miller, S., H. Greenwald, L.C. Kennedy, R.S. Kantor, R. Jiang, A. Pisarenko, A. Chen, K.L. Nelson. (2022) “Microbial water quality through a full-scale advanced wastewater treatment demonstration facility.” ES&T Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.2c00198.
Darby, E., A. Olivieri, C. Haas, G. Di Giovanni, W. Jakubowski, M. Leddy, K.L. Nelson, C. Rock, T. Slifko, and B.M. Pecson. (2023) “Identifying and Aggregating High-Quality Pathogen Data: A New Approach for Potable Reuse Regulatory Development.” Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology; 9:1646-1653. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3EW00131H.
Greenwald, H., L.C. Kennedy, A. Ehde, Y. Duan, C.I. Olivares, R. Kantor, K.L. Nelson (2022) “Is flushing necessary during building closures? A study of water quality and bacterial communities during extended reductions in building occupancy” Frontiers in Water 4. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2022.958523.
Kennedy, L.C., S.E. Miller, R.S. Kantor, and K.L. Nelson. (2021) “Effect of Disinfectant Residual, pH, and Temperature on Microbial Abundance in Disinfected Drinking Water Distribution Systems.” Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology 7(1): 78–92. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00809E.
Miller, S.E., Rodriguez, R. and K.L. Nelson. (2020). “Removal and Growth of Microorganisms across Treatment and Simulated Distribution at a Pilot-Scale Direct Potable Reuse Facility.” Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology. 6(5): 1370-1387. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9ew01087d.
Kantor, R.S., S.E. Miller, K.L. Nelson. (2019). “The water microbiome through an advanced treatment facility for direct potable reuse,” Frontiers in Microbiology. 10 (993): 1-15. https://doi:10.3389/fmicb.2019.00993.
Chaudhry, R.M., Hamilton, K.A., Haas, C.N., and K.L. Nelson (2017) “Drivers of Microbial Risk for Direct Potable Reuse and de Facto Reuse Treatment Schemes: The Impacts of Source Water Quality and Blending.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14 (635). doi:10.3390/ijerph14060635.Olivieri, A.; Crook, J.; Anderson, M.; Bull, R.; Drewes, J.; Haas, C.; Jakubowski, W.; McCarty, P.; Nelson, K.; Rose, J.; Sedlak, D.; Wade, T. (2016) Expert Panel Final Report: Evaluation of the Feasibility of Developing Uniform Water Recycling Criteria for Direct Potable Reuse; National Water Research Institute for the State Water Resources Control Board: Sacramento, CA.