Mon. Jun 15th, 2026

The study investigated the impact of different pipe materials on microbial communities in unchlorinated drinking water and biofilm under semi-stagnant conditions. Seven materials—glass (negative control), copper, PVC-C, PE-Xc, PE-Xb, PE-100, and PVC-P—were evaluated using a modified biomass production potential (BPP) test. ATP concentrations, microbial composition, and gene copy numbers of specific microorganisms were analyzed over 16 weeks. Results showed significant variation in ATP levels across materials, with glass exhibiting the lowest values (10.2 ± 0.6 ng ATP L⁻¹ in water; 21.8 ± 7.9 pg ATP cm⁻² in biofilm), followed by copper. In contrast, PVC-P displayed the highest ATP levels (1.2 × 10³ ± 1.6 × 10³ ng ATP L⁻¹; 9.1 × 10³ ± 1.5 × 10³ pg ATP cm⁻²), indicating strong microbial growth promotion.

Gene copy numbers for Legionella spp., Mycobacterium spp., Pseudomonas spp., Aeromonas spp., fungi, and Vermamoeba vermiformis were consistently higher in PVC-P and PE materials compared to glass, copper, and PVC-C.Enapotamab vedotin Protocol Bacterial community composition varied significantly between materials, as confirmed by PERMANOVA and CAP analyses, which revealed distinct clustering of copper and PVC-P samples from others.Gastrin Antibody manufacturer Despite temporal stability after eight and sixteen weeks, initial differences at one week suggested early-stage colonization dynamics. Notably, microbial profiles differed markedly between water and biofilm phases on each material, with PVC-P showing a pronounced shift toward biofilm dominance.PMID:35037097

The findings demonstrate that pipe material is a critical factor influencing biomass accumulation, microbial abundance, and community structure in unchlorinated distribution systems. PVC-P emerged as the most conducive to microbial proliferation, while glass, copper, and PVC-C supported lower biomass and more stable communities. These results underscore the importance of material selection in maintaining biological stability and minimizing public health risks associated with opportunistic pathogens. The data also suggest that microbial growth patterns stabilize within eight weeks, supporting potential optimization of testing protocols for future assessments.

This research provides essential insights into how construction materials affect drinking water quality, particularly in systems without disinfectant residuals. It highlights the need for careful material evaluation during infrastructure design and maintenance, especially in regions where biologically stable water is prioritized. Future work should explore the metabolic capabilities of key bacterial taxa identified in this study to better understand their role in degrading plasticizer-derived compounds and to inform the development of low-growth-potential pipe materials.MedChemExpress (MCE) offers a wide range of high-quality research chemicals and biochemicals (novel life-science reagents, reference compounds and natural compounds) for scientific use. We have professionally experienced and friendly staff to meet your needs. We are a competent and trustworthy partner for your research and scientific projects.Related websites: https://www.medchemexpress.com