Performance of microbiological control by a point-of-use filter system for drinking water purification

Purification capacity of a faucet mounted type water filter for home use was evaluated, particularly with regard to microbiological performance under different running conditions. Biofilms were formed inside the filter, affecting the bacterial quality of the effluent water. Low flow rate, long stagnation period and high filter temperature were found favorable for bacterial growth inside. By commercial analytical profile index (API) kits, ten different bacterial species were identified in drinking water, four of which were probably contributed to the biofilm formation since they were also present in the biofilm. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to confirm the API identification results, and direct viable count (DVC) method was employed to improve the sensitivity of FISH for the isolated Acinetobacter spp. and Pseudomonas putida as models. Relationship between the filter operating condition and the bacterial community alteration was partly revealed, which could provide the basic knowledge for the filter design and its practical use.