Legionella Diversity and Spatiotemporal Variation in the Occurrence of Opportunistic Pathogens within a Large Building Water System

UnderstandingLegionellasurvival mechanisms within building water systems (BWSs) is challenging due to varying engineering, operational, and water quality characteristics unique to each system. This study aimed to evaluateLegionella, mycobacteria, and free-living amoebae occurrence within a BWS over 18-28 months at six locations differing in plumbing material and potable water age, quality, and usage. A total of 114 bulk water and 57 biofilm samples were analyzed.Legionellaculturability fluctuated seasonally with most culture-positive samples being collected during the winter compared to the spring, summer, and fall months. Positive and negative correlations betweenLegionellaandL.pneumophilaoccurrence and other physiochemical and microbial water quality parameters varied between location and sample types. Whole genome sequencing of 19 presumptiveLegionellaisolates, from four locations across three time points, identified nine isolates asL. pneumophilaserogroup (sg) 1 sequence-type (ST) 1; three asL. pneumophilasg5 ST1950 and ST2037; six asL. feeleii; and one asOchrobactrum. Results showed the presence of a diverseLegionellapopulation with consistent and sporadic occurrence at four and two locations, respectively. Viewed collectively with similar studies, this information will enable a better understanding of the engineering, operational, and water quality parameters supportingLegionellagrowth within BWSs.