TRACKING BACTERIA AND FUNGI DIVERSITY FROM NATURAL WATER SOURCES TO DRINKING WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS - A REVIEW

The complete removal of bacterial and fungal communities found in natural water sources by drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) is a global issue of concern as many of these microbes are passed down to the end users through the drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs). An overview of the bacterial and fungal communities present in natural water sources is provided. The abundance of the bacterial and fungal communities in the final water exiting DWTPs and tap water from DWDSs provides an insight into the treatment plants' effectiveness. Information on the different technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) used in the water treatment plants was collated to elucidate their role in drinking water treatment. Based on previous studies, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Nitrospirae, and Actinobacteria are the predominant bacterial phyla while Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Penicillium, Fusarium and Trichoderma are the predominant fungal phyla identified in the final water and tap water. Information on the performance of advanced treatment shows the positive impact of the technology in bacteria and fungi removal. Furthermore, the application of AI in water treatment for the determination of coagulant dosages and prediction of the disinfectant is also promising. Research gaps were identified, and future studies were recommended to address water treatment concerns.