Molecular profiling of culturable bacteria from portable drinking water filtration systems and tap water in three cities of Metro Manila, Philippines

Abstract

Many consumers drink filtered water from portable filtration system or directly from tap water. However, microbial community composition in portable drinking water filtration systems has not yet been investigated. This study determined the molecular profile of culturable bacteria in biofilms and filtered water from portable drinking water filtration systems and tap water in three key cities of Metro Manila, Philippines. A total of 97 isolates were obtained using different growth media and characterized based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Most bacteria were isolated from biofilms, followed by filtered water and the least from tap water. Many isolates were affiliated with Proteobacteria (α, β, and γ), Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteriodetes; some had no matches or low affiliations in data bank. Many isolates were associated with bacteria that were part of normal drinking water flora. Some were affiliated with opportunistic bacterial pathogens, soil bacteria and activated sludge bacteria. The presence of soil and opportunistic bacteria may pose health risks when immunocompromised consumers directly drink the tap water. Some isolates had very low percentage homology with bacterial affiliates or without matches in the data bank suggesting different identities or novelty of the isolates. Further studies are needed for different portable filtration systems available in the market, drinking water quality status of other areas and functions of the isolated bacteria. This study is the first report on the use of potato dextrose agar for isolation of bacteria from water environment. It is also the first report on molecular profiling of culturable bacteria in biofilms and filtered water in portable drinking water filtration systems.