Microbial community structure in a drinking water GAC filter

Abstract

The biofilm community structure in a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter was investigated by ribosomal intergenic spacer region analysis (RISA). The results showed that microbial diversity diminished and stabilized with time of filter operation. One bacterium (Hydrogenophaga palleronii) was identified according to its 16S-rRNA sequence. However, this bacterium did not degrade any of the HAAs tested. Another bacterium was isolated from biofilm enrichment cultures and was capable of degrading ClAA and Cl₂AA.