Growth and flow cytometric monitoring of bacteria in drinking water

Bacteria are omnipresent, also in our drinking water. This is unavoidable but should not be a reason to worry. It is better to understand them, to be able to control and predict their behavior. In a first section of this research, fundamental factors affecting bacterial presence in drinking water were studied. Transparent exopolymer particles were monitored as a possible biofilm promoter, but their importance in Flemish drinking waters appeared to be limited. In addition, the factors governing growth or survival of intruding bacteria in drinking water were studied. It appeared that next to the available nutrients, the present indigenous microbial community was crucial. Routine monitoring of bacteria in drinking water asks for performant tools. Therefore, the second section optimized the use of flow cytometry as a high-throughput monitoring tool and it was shown that bacterial analysis could be done fast and precise. A third and final section was conducted in close collaboration with drinking water industry and searched for additional applications for flow cytometry, deviating from routine monitoring. The tool was successfully applied for providing fast information during rinsing of major supply pipes and for a quick screening of bacterial growth in a local drinking water network