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Article

Assessment of Microbiological Quality of Water Using Culture Methods, Flow Cytometry and Luminometry

by
Justyna Zamorska
1,*,
Ewa Karwowska
2 and
Wioletta Przystaś
3
1
Department of Water Treatment and Protection, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Rzeszow University of Technology, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
2
Department of Biology, Faculty of Building Services, Hydro and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-653 Warsaw, Poland
3
Department of Air Protection, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, The Silesian Technical University, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Water 2023, 15(23), 4077; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15234077
Submission received: 24 October 2023 / Revised: 17 November 2023 / Accepted: 22 November 2023 / Published: 24 November 2023
(This article belongs to the Section Water Quality and Contamination)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
A very important role in determining the quality of water is the assessment of its microbiological quality. Water quality control, which could pose a direct threat to human health and life, is performed in the case of water produced at water treatment plants, tap water, or water in swimming pools. However, these traditional methods used to assess its quality are laborious and time-consuming. In emergency and incidental situations, in the era of terrorist threats, the need for quick, reliable, and reproducible microbiological determinations seems to be essential. In this study, an attempt was made to compare various methods of assessing the microbiological quality of water. The assessment was carried out for water with different microbiological characteristics: surface water, rainwater, groundwater, and water supply. The evaluation was carried out using traditional culture methods and high-speed methods: flow cytometry and luminometry. The analysis of microbiological parameters was the basis for the statistical analysis. The conducted microbiological analysis of various types of water, along with their statistical evaluation, showed different dependencies for each of the analyzed waters.

1. Introduction

The aquatic environment contains a variety of microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, and protozoa. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the microbiological quality of water. The problem mainly concerns the sources that are intended to supply us with drinking water, but also rainwater, which is increasingly being considered to be an alternative water source. Accurate and fast detection of microbial cells is a constant challenge across a broad spectrum of research and application fields. This challenge covers issues as diverse as obtaining quantitative information on specific microbial populations in natural surface water [1,2], monitoring the quality of fluids used in the food and pharmaceutical industries [3], or fast threat detection in drinking water [4]. The methods of assessing the microbiological quality of water can be divided into traditional (culture) methods and methods using modern technological achievements. Traditional methods have been used for many years, while the methods in which the flow cytometer and luminometer are used are rather new in the routine assessment of the microbiological quality of water.
This paper presents a microbiological analysis of surface, rain, ground, and tap water. Surface waters have a very microbiologically diverse environment. The most numerous groups of indigenous bacteria found in water bodies are chemoorganotrophic bacteria, which are classified as saprophytes. Typical representatives are ciliated Gram-negative rods, which are represented by bacteria of the genera Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Aeromonas, Achromobacter, and Vibrio, as well as Gram-positive cocci, which include bacteria of the genus Micrococcus and spiral bacteria of the genus Spirillum. On the submerged parts of higher plants and on underwater solid particles, stylic bacteria (e.g., Caulobacter), filamentous, sheath-like, and bud-like bacteria (e.g., Hyphomicrobium) live in large numbers. The bottom sediments are inhabited mostly by anaerobic putrefactive bacteria, cellulolytic bacteria, and anaerobic chemoorganotrophs. Surface waters rich in nutrients and heavily contaminated surface waters are an environment in which there are numerous autochthonous as well as allochthonous species: Escherichia coli, bacteria of the genera Klebsiella, Proteus, Enterobacter, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as bacteria belonging to the genus Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter [5]. Allochthonous bacteria also include bacteria of the genera Clostridium and Bacillus, which enter the water from the soil as a result of surface runoff, often during heavy rainfall. Fungi thrive in aquatic environments with pH values below 6.0. In the aquatic environment, the most abundant molds are those in the class of Clostridia (Mucor sp. and Rhizopus sp.). Fungi belonging to the phylum Ascomycota, yeasts, and molds (e.g., molds belonging to the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium), as well as mitospore fungi (Deuteromycota), are frequently found in surface waters. The occurrence of potentially pathogenic fungi in water reservoirs, which are sources of supply for water supply stations, has been confirmed by many authors [6,7,8]. Candidia albicans, Rhodotorula glutinis, and Trichosporon beigelli, among others, were predominant, and their abundance correlated with the presence of E. coli [9]. The kingdom Procaryota includes cyanobacteria, which are often found in surface waters. The forms in which they occur range from unicellular to colonial to thread-like. Cyanobacteria are widely distributed due to their resistance to extreme environmental conditions. Some of them secrete toxic metabolites [10].
Rainwater is characterized by a highly diverse quality, and its composition is shaped by many factors. The sources of rainwater contamination are, to a large extent, substances leached from the atmosphere; however, the greatest pollution is caused by the runoff on the ground surface, roof, gutter, or pipeline network. It is estimated that during rainfall, about 20–25% of pollutants are produced, the sources of which are dust, furnace fumes, industrial fumes, and dust, as well as volatile seeds or plant protection products sprayed into the air. Nevertheless, the greatest contamination is caused by the entry of microbial pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa [11]. In addition, other constituents such as inert solids and dust and fecal deposits from rodents and birds collected on roofs during the dry season can also affect the collected rainwater quality. Large quantities of pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and protozoa Giardia lamblia, have been detected in rainwater. Therefore, the first stream of roof runoff water, i.e., occurring when the rainfall starts, may contain contaminants in the form of these microorganisms with relatively increased concentrations [12,13]. The quality of rainwater and the number of pathogens present in it will be determined by the water collection system because both microbiological and chemical pollutants mix into rainwater during runoff from roofs, washing off its surface: organic substances, dust, bird and animal feces. All of them are responsible for the most dangerous contamination in terms of microbiology and pollution resulting from human activity [14,15].
Groundwater is inhabited by microflora that is not very diverse in terms of species composition. The autochthonous microflora in groundwater includes mainly microorganisms that have low nutritional requirements. The representatives of the indigenous body of such waters are bacteria, mostly psychrophiles. The main representatives of bacteria are species of the genera Flavobacterium and Achromobacter, and few cocci develop. These waters also contain actinomycetes that grow on dead organic matter and yeasts. The most common are actinomycetes of the genera Actinomycetes, Nocardia, Streptomycetes, Micromonospora, and yeasts belonging to the genera Candida, Pichia, Cryptococcus, Debaryomyces, Torulopsis, Saccharomyces and Hansenula. Sulfur, ferrous, and manganese bacteria are important for groundwater [16].
In the case of tap waters, biological growth in pipelines is a serious microbiological threat. The biodiversity of the biofilm depends on the environmental conditions in the water distribution system. Among the organisms that form the biofilm and are also present in the corrosion products (chemical sediment), there are mixotrophic, heterotrophic, and autotrophic bacteria, algae, protozoa, fungi, and viruses [17,18,19]. Taking into account the aspect of microbiological contamination, the most significant are opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms whose occurrence (even though disinfection was used) is found in biological sediment present in the water supply network. These include Mycobacterium avium, Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, Klebsiella oxytoca, and bacteria of the genera Pseudomonas, Legionella, Enterobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Nocardia, Flavobacterium, Micrococcus, Corynebacterium, Xanthomonas, and Serratia. Also, fungi, and above all, the metabolic products of microscopic fungi present in the water distribution network—mycotoxins, are the cause of many human diseases [20]. The release of microorganisms and biofilm fragments into water occurs when the velocity increases and the direction of water flow in water pipes changes [21]. In model tests, it was shown that during water flow in a ductile iron water supply system at a velocity of 0.1 m/s, ferric, psychrophilic, ammonifying bacteria and proteolytic were released from the biofilm. The thinning of biological growths and transport to the water released from them, excluding hydraulic conditions, is determined by many factors. Blurring biofilms and transferring them to the water released from them, excluding hydraulic conditions, is co-dictated by many factors. These include the type and the number of microorganisms inhabiting the biofilm, its age, cohesiveness, structure, thickness, type, and content of metabolites, how long the water was present in the water supply system and its temperature, the type of installation materials together with their sanitary and technical condition, and the geometry of water supply pipes with other elements of the distribution system. Along with the density of the biofilm, which is the highest in summer, the number of microorganisms increases. Water pipes made of corrosive, non-toxic materials and inadequate control of biofilm growth throughout the water supply system are also causing an increased number of microorganisms. The highest bacteriological contamination of water was found at the ends of the network, in the water after a longer period of stagnation in the pipelines, and derived after a break in its supply [22,23].
In the last three decades, significant progress has been made in the study of microflora in various environments. Significant technological advances, including the appearance of molecular microbiology, have revealed the complex and abundant presence of microorganisms in almost any aquatic environment. This new approach highlighted the huge underestimation of bacteria detected by conventional methods compared to bacteria detected by culture-independent methods—a phenomenon often referred to as the “great plate count anomaly” [24]. Flow cytometry (FCM) is defined as the counting of cells, and the different cytometric techniques used are currently being compared to each other [25]. Luminometry, in comparison to culture methods, is also characterized by high measurement accuracy and sensitivity as well as relatively low apparatus cost. It allows accurate and fast measurement of the amount of biomass and metabolic activity of microorganisms.
The aim of the study was to compare different methods for assessing the microbiological quality of water. The assessment was carried out for waters with various microbiological characteristics: surface waters, rainwater, groundwater, and tap water. Each water sample was tested using traditional breeding methods (using reference agar—AGAR A and AGAR R2A) to determine two basic parameters: psychrophilic and mesophilic bacteria. Determinations were also performed using rapid microbiological assessment methods, i.e., flow cytometry and luminometry. Both methods, although described in the literature for several years, are not routinely used in determining the microbiological quality of water. Cytometry allows the assessment of the total number of particles in water. The luminometric method allows the determination of ATP concentration. A novelty in the work is the determination of many water samples with various microbiological characteristics using all methods. The creation of such a database enabled the statistical assessment of the quality results obtained for various types of water—the correlation of the results obtained using various methods.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Research Material

Surface water
Samples were taken from the surface water reservoir (dam reservoir in Rzeszów) for two years, in four seasons:
Spring—water temperature: 12 °C–18 °C–50 samples,
Summer—water temperature: 19 °C–24 °C–82 samples,
Autumn—water temperature: 9 °C–18 °C–60 samples,
Winter—water temperature: 3 °C–8 °C–42 samples.
The samples were taken at a depth of about 20–30 cm below the water table with a sterile bottle. When collecting the sample, care was taken to ensure that no solid particles floating under the water surface entered the bottle. After the bottle was filled with water, it was taken out, and ¼ was poured out.
Rainwater
Samples of rainwater collected in Strażów (Podkarpackie Voivodeship), within a single-family housing estate, were used for microbiological research. Water was collected in spring, summer, and fall. Water was taken directly from the air. Water was collected in:
Spring: 115 samples
Summer: 90 samples
Autumn: 75 samples
Groundwater and tap water
Samples of groundwater were taken at 4 water treatment stations in the Rzeszów district using groundwater intakes (Trzebownisko, Huta Komorowska, Głogów Młp. and Cmolas). Non-disinfected water was collected for the tests. Properly disinfected water taps were used for this purpose. The samples for testing tap water were taken in several points within the city of Rzeszów. Sterile bottles containing sodium thiosulfate were used to draw water from the water supply with chlorine-containing disinfectants. A total of 220 tap water and 240 groundwater samples were collected for the analysis.
All collected water samples were immediately transported to the laboratory in a portable refrigerator cooled with ice containers (temp. 3–5 °C). The samples were analyzed within two hours of collection.

2.2. Methodology of Bacteriological Determinations

The scope of the study included (Table 1).
The total number of bacteria was determined by the Koch method using the submersible inoculation method on the agar medium—AGAR A. Due to its high contamination, surface water was diluted with Ringer’s fluid in the range from 10−1 to 10−6 prior to testing. In the case of culture on R2A AGAR (to allow the culturing of many other bacteria that will not readily grow on fuller, complex organic media), the incubation temperatures were as above. The culture time was extended to 7 days. All bacterial count results are presented as cfu (1 mL).
The total number of microorganisms present in the tested waters was determined by flow cytometry. Cells were counted using a Partec Cube 6 flow cytometer (Sysmex-Partec) equipped with a 488 nm blue laser, forward scattering detector (FSC), side scattering detector (SSC), and three fluorescence detectors (FL1-536 ± 20 nm, FL2-590 ± 25 nm, FL3N 615 nm). The fluid flow rate was 4 μL/s, and the absolute number (TVAC) of particles was obtained as the result. All data were processed using FlowMax V2 4d software (Partec). Fluorescent dyes, which are perfect for the excitation by the blue argon laser line at 488 nm, were used for the determinations: SYBRGreen I nucleic acid stain (10,000 × diluted in DMSO). SYBRGreen I (the term SYBRGreen was used in the further part of the study) has excitation/emission maxima, respectively, at 497/520 nm [26]. Diluted dye in the amount of 20 μL was introduced into 2 mL of test water placed in a sterile test tube, where necessary (surface water, rainwater). Samples were diluted just prior to measurement in filtered (0.22 μm, Millex®-GP, Millipore, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MI, USA) bottled mineral water (EVIAN, Evian-les-Bains, France) so that the concentration measured with FCM was always less than 2 × 105 cell ml. The solution was shaken for about 5 s using a vortex device, and the prepared sample was placed in the incubator for 10 min at 37 °C. After removing the sample from the incubator, it was placed in the flow cytometer, and the determinations were made. Determinations were performed for the sample of 100 μL. The results obtained, i.e., the number of particles in μL was converted to the number of particles present in 1 mL of the tested water, taking into account the dilutions used earlier. The final result was the number of particles—bacteria with a high content of nucleic acids (HNA). Autofluorescence in surface water samples was tested according to the same methodology without the use of fluorochrome. FCM analysis with fluorescence dye was performed according to the method described in [26,27,28].
A PhotonMaster luminometer was used to determine ATP concentration in microbial cells. In the first stage, the reagent for the determination was prepared. Two solutions, BacTiter-GloTM Buffer and BacTiter-GloTM Substrate, reached room temperature, and then the appropriate volume of BacTiter-GloTM Buffer was added to the bottle containing BacTiter-GloTM Substrate. The resulting reagent was gently mixed to obtain a homogeneous solution. The prepared reagent was stored at −18 °C. Prior to the determination, the reagent was placed in a sand bath at 37 °C. The measurement stage begins with a determination of luminase activity contained in the luciferin-luciferase complex used, which directly affects the result obtained. For the determination of total ATP (intracellular and extracellular), 100 μL of tested water was taken into a tube. The collected water was then placed in a sand bath for 30 s. After heating, 100 μL of reagent was added to the tube. The sample was mixed with a vortex motion placed in a PhotonMaster luminometer, and the RLU (Relative Light Unit) was interpreted. A standard curve was made for converting RLU values into ATP concentrations. However, in the case of the luminometer used in waters with a low number of bacteria (groundwater, tap water), the RLU values were often at the detection limit of this apparatus. The ATP values read from the standard curve were very low, and it was considered that the RLU value would be more reliable for comparison purposes.

2.3. Statistical Analysis

The statistical analysis was performed using the STATISTICA 12 program and MS Excel 2013. Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient was calculated—a coefficient determining the level of linear dependence between the variables.
The strength of the correlation coefficient was:
<0.2—no linear relationship.
0.2–0.4—low dependence.
0.4–0.7—moderate dependence.
0.7–0.9—strong enough dependence.
>0.9—very strong dependence.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Surface Water

The values of the number of bacteria in the tested surface water samples are very diverse and depend mainly on the season. The lowest values were observed in the winter season, while the highest numbers were in the summer season. The amounts of particles measured with a flow cytometer using SYBRGreen dye are many times higher than the amounts of bacteria determined by the culture method. In all the performed determinations, the numbers of bacteria on R2A AGAR were significantly higher than the numbers on AGAR A (Figure 1).
The statistical parameters for the determined parameters are presented in Table 2. When analyzing the values of correlation coefficients for the assessed parameters of surface water, very strong relationships can be noticed. They concern the number of psychrophilic bacteria determined on A AGAR and R2A AGAR (Table 2).
In contrast, fairly strong relationships were observed for:
-
the number of mesophilic bacteria on both tested agars,
-
RLU values and the number of psychrophilic bacteria on Agar A and R2A,
-
total number of bacteria determined and the RLU value.
This would suggest the possibility of using a luminometric ATP concentration determination for the rapid assessment of the microbiological quality of surface water. Unfortunately, no linear relationships were observed for cytometric determinations with the other tested microbiological parameters of water. This corresponds to previous results presented by Velten et al. [29] and Magic-Knezev and van der Kooij [30] for environmental aquatic bacteria. Correlation coefficients after adjusting for autofluorescence increased slightly. The significance of the correlation cannot be observed in any case.
The microbiological quality of water is the main factor determining the health and the lives of its users. This problem applies to all types of water presented and analyzed in the research. Surface waters are a source of drinking water for approximately 50% of the Polish population and 66% of the European population [European Environment Agency (EEA)]. Currently, surface waters are assessed according to the classification of ecological status, ecological potential, and chemical status. The microbiological quality, which is often very bad, is not assessed.
The literature gives examples of quantitative assessment in surface waters using different methods. Such studies were conducted on the Grand River, located in southern Ontario, Canada. A modified flow cytometry method was used to monitor water quality in the river. The results were compared to total cell counts (divided into HNA and LNA groups) for the same river water sample using flow cytometry and counts for other water quality parameters, including phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations, temperature, and turbidity. The flow cytometry method provided reproducible results with a standard error of ≤12% [31]. Quantities of microorganisms were also measured in seawater. The total bacterial count determined by the culture method was 1.10·105 cfu/mL, while by flow cytometry, the value was much higher and amounted to 8.00·105 particles/mL [32]. Similar differences in bacterial abundance were shown by the results obtained in this research.

3.2. Rainwater

The microbiological quality of rainwater, similar to surface water, was dependent on the season. The lowest values were observed in the spring season, while the highest numbers were in the summer season. The amounts of particles measured with a flow cytometer using SYBRGreen dye are many times higher than the amounts of bacteria determined by the culture method. In all the performed determinations, the numbers of bacteria on AGAR R2A were significantly higher than the numbers on AGAR A (Figure 2).
In the case of rainwater, very strong linear Pearson correlations between the examined parameters were found. A very strong relationship was found between:
-
the sum of all bacteria and psychrophilic bacteria on R2A AGAR,
-
the sum of all bacteria and mesophilic bacteria on R2A AGAR,
-
number of psychrophilic bacteria on AGAR A and AGAR R2A,
-
the number of psychrophilic bacteria on AGAR A, with the number of mesophilic bacteria on AGAR R2A,
-
number of mesophilic bacteria on AGAR A and R2A.
There is a rather strong relationship between the RLU value and the number of particles measured cytometrically (Table 3).
Water resources mainly come from precipitation, which is characterized by significant diversity in time and space. The use of rainwater, even for drinking purposes, is increasingly being addressed. Rainwater is characterized by a highly varied quality, and its composition is shaped by many factors. The results of the microbiological quality of rainwater presented in the work prove their great difference that depends on the season. From an ecological point of view, the solution to use rainwater is attractive. It is, therefore, necessary to know its quality. Especially microbiological contamination, which poses a risk to human health, is very important.
Recently, many countries, including Thailand, the USA, Nigeria, New Zealand, India, Zambia, Brazil, Canada, Australia, Jordan, New Guinea, and South Korea, have studied the quality of rainwater [33,34,35,36,37]. In Europe, rainwater quality assessment has been studied by Polkowska et al. [38], Futrell and Kay [39], Melidis et al. [40], Sazakli et al. [41], and Tsakovski et al. [42]. Many studies have found that rainwater has unacceptable levels of microbiological contamination and poor physicochemical properties. A clear position on the quality and health risks associated with water collected from roof coverings has not been reached [43].

3.3. Groundwater

The maximum numbers of psychrophilic and mesophilic bacteria in this water determined by culture methods on AGAR A constituted 27 and 16 cfu/mL, respectively. In some samples, no bacteria could be detected on AGAR A, but they were always detected on AGAR R2A (minimum values were 4 and 2 cfu/mL for psychrophiles and mesophiles, respectively). As with the total bacterial count values measured by the culture method, the RLU values in the tested water samples were also very low and ranged from 132 to 461 RLUs, with an average of 267. The number of particles in the groundwater samples measured using SYBRGreen ranged from 860 to 6860 (1 mL) (Figure 3).
When analyzing the Pearson correlation coefficients, a strong correlation between the number of psychrophilic bacteria on R2A AGAR and the sum of all the bacteria obtained by the culture method can be observed (Table 4).
A fairly strong linear correlation is observed between:
-
number of psychrophilic and mesophilic bacteria on both agars,
-
the number of mesophilic bacteria and the sum of all bacteria,
-
RLU value and the number of mesophilic bacteria on AGAR A,
-
RLU value and the number of mesophilic bacteria on R2A AGAR,
-
RLU value and the sum of all bacteria.
In the case of groundwater, the results obtained indicate the luminometric determination of ATP as a rapid and reliable method for assessing its quality.
In accordance with the principle that the best quality water resources should be used as a source of drinking water, the amount of groundwater used for collective water supply is increasing in Poland. Often, the quality of these waters is so good that they do not require disinfection. In Poland, nearly 70% of tap water comes from underground resources, but storing it in reservoirs and then transferring it through extensive systems of pipelines and water installations often adversely affects the quality of that water. This makes it necessary to use disinfection processes also for water from underground intakes. There is also local contamination of underground water intakes, as well as secondary pollutants, often caused by poor technical and sanitary conditions of installations inside buildings, supplying water directly to the point of collection by the consumer. However, in emergencies, a microbiological hazard may arise, and rapid determination methods can inform us about it.
The concentration of ATP is often used as a microbiological parameter along with other microbiological methods to characterize drinking water quality [44,45,46] and for assessing biological stability [47,48]. Some studies confirm a significant correlation between ATP and HPC in drinking water [43,49], as also indicated by the obtained results of the statistical analysis for the data presented. Sometimes, no correlation has been observed between ATP and HPC [27,45,47]. It is important to understand that these two microbiological parameters are very different; ATP is a total measurement, bearing in mind that culture methods often reveal less than 1% of the bacteria present in a sample [50]. Therefore, these two microbiological parameters will not necessarily correlate with each other, and in fact, the correlation values obtained may indicate quite the opposite.
Other methods of total counts, such as microscopy and flow cytometry, are also frequently used and have been found to correlate significantly with ATP concentrations [51,52]. Correlations between total cell counts obtained by different methodologies can be expected, as these are measurements of total biomass. However, Liu et al. [48] observed no correlation between the values obtained by flow cytometry methods and ATP. This situation is similar to the results presented. Overall, it is important to recognize that different methods provide us with different information about the microbiological status of drinking water.

3.4. Tap Water

Microbiological quality was assessed in 220 samples of tap water. Statistical parameters indicate large differences in the values of individual indices on both agars used. In all samples tested, a significantly higher number of bacteria was observed in cultures on AGAR R2A (Figure 4).
Analyzing Pearson linear correlations (Table 5), a strong linear correlation is found between:
-
the number of psychrophilic bacteria on R2A AGAR and the sum of all bacteria,
-
the number of mesophilic bacteria on R2A AGAR and the sum of all bacteria.
A fairly strong correlation has been found between the number of particles measured cytometrically. Unfortunately, the correlation coefficient values indicate a lack of linear correlation between the bacterial count results obtained by culture methods and the RLU and particle count values measured by flow cytometry. This applies to both the abundance values of individual bacterial groups and their sum.
Total microbial counts in drinking water are usually monitored using heterotrophic plate indicators (HPC). This method has been used for over 100 years and is recommended in drinking water guidelines. However, the HPC method has its drawbacks. This method is time-consuming and limited to culturable bacteria. Microbiological water safety is a very important issue. Recently, rapid and accurate detection methods have been developed, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) measurement to assess microbial activity in drinking water and flow cytometry (FCM) to determine total cell concentration (TCC). When it comes to drinking water quality control, it is necessary to understand the relationship between conventional and new methods. All three methods were used to assess the quality of 200 drinking water samples obtained from two local buildings connected to the same distribution system. Samples were taken on both normal working days and weekends, and correlations between different microbiological parameters were determined. TCC in the samples ranged from 0.37 to 5.61 × 105 cells [1 mL], and two clusters, the so-called high nucleic acid (HNA) and low nucleic acid (LNA) bacterial groups, were clearly distinguished. The results showed that the rapid determination methods (i.e., FCM and ATP) correlate well (R2 = 0.69), but only a low correlation (R2 = 0.31) has been observed between the rapid methods and the conventional HPC data [51]. Such results are also confirmed by the values obtained in the presented studies. With respect to drinking water monitoring, both FCM and ATP measurements have been recognized as useful parameters for the rapid assessment of the microbiological quality of drinking water [53,54].
The quality of tap water depends on the source of its intake, the method of collecting and treating it, the sanitary conditions of water intakes and tanks, the water supply network, connections, and internal water supply installation. Many factors determine the quality of water, which ultimately reaches the recipient. Often, the good quality of produced water that enters the water supply system is not equivalent to the same good quality of water that reaches the recipient. Interruptions in water supply and the resulting storage of water by the population favor bacteriological contamination. Pressure fluctuations in the network may cause contamination with other foreign waters sucked into the water supply network. Water intended for human consumption should meet certain standards, and it is regularly examined. Physico-chemical parameters are increasingly often being assessed by rapid tests. On the other hand, the problem of assessing microbial contamination is still being solved by traditional, labor-intensive, and long-lasting culture methods. It takes a minimum of 24 h from the time the determination is performed to the first result. Therefore, it is necessary to search for fast, reliable, and delivering reproducible results microbiological determinations presently. It should be noted that these rapid methods–luminometric ATP determination as well as flow cytometry will not replace the culture method for the time being. Traditional methods, as shown in the presented work, are not reliable. The presented research clearly shows how much difference there is in the results obtained with different media. The A-reference nutrient agar, depending on the type of water tested, detects only a small number of bacteria. Moreover, is this result satisfactory in the case of the waters we use daily? Luminometric ATP determination is a very quick and relatively cheap method that allows the assessment of the microbiological quality of water. This is a general indicator. Continuous ATP determination would allow for hazard identification and could be used for various types of water [54]. Surface waters are used as intakes for drinking water. Changing microbiological quality, detected very quickly, would allow, e.g., quick correction of unit processes (e.g., correction of disinfectant doses), detection of incidental contamination, and thus a quick response from the services.

4. Conclusions

The number of bacteria assessed on AGAR R2A for all types of analyzed waters was higher compared to the reference AGAR A. The lowest values of standard deviation for four groups of bacteria (psychrophilic and mesophilic bacteria on both agars) in waters with low bacteriological contamination were obtained for groundwater. The total number of bacteria quite strongly correlates with the RLU values for surface and groundwater. This suggests the possibility of using the luminometric ATP determination for the quick assessment of the microbiological quality of this type of water. Quite strong correlations between the RLU values and cytometrically determined particle numbers were observed for rainwater. Strong and relatively strong linear relationships for the tested microbiological parameters differ in each of the assessed waters.
The research and statistical analysis conducted also allow additional conclusions to be drawn for each type of water.
-
In the case of surface water, the microbiological quality was highly dependent on the season during which the research was conducted. Low Pearson correlation coefficient factors indicate the lack of linear relationships for cytometric determinations with other microbiological water parameters examined. In the case of cytometric determinations, the obtained result should be correlated with autofluorescence.
-
The microbiological quality of rainwater is highly variable. Very strong correlations were found for the determination of the bacteria number performed with the use of culture methods. On the other hand, low values of linear correlation were obtained for the number of bacteria and the values obtained by cytometry and luminometry methods.
-
In the case of non-disinfected groundwater of very good microbiological quality, it is suggested to quickly measure and evaluate the microbiological quality using the luminometric method of ATP determination.
-
For tap water, no linear correlation was found between the number of bacteria obtained with the culture methods, the values of RLU, and the number of particles measured with the flow cytometer. Such a result indicates the presence of uniform microflora in the examined waters. On the other hand, the luminometric measurements may have been influenced by extracellular ATP, which was released from microbial cells during ozonation. This indicates the need to assess the concentration of extracellular ATP for disinfected tap water.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, J.Z.; methodology, J.Z.; software, J.Z.; validation, J.Z.; formal analysis, J.Z.; investigation, J.Z.; resources, J.Z; data curation, J.Z.; writing—original draft preparation; writing—review and editing, J.Z., E.K. and W.P.; visualization J.Z.; supervision, J.Z.; project administration, J.Z.; funding acquisition, J.Z. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Data Availability Statement

No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Water 15 04077 g001
Figure 1. Box and whisker plot showing median and variation in samples taken from surface water.
Figure 1. Box and whisker plot showing median and variation in samples taken from surface water.
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Figure 2. Box and whisker plot showing median and variation in samples taken from rainwater.
Figure 2. Box and whisker plot showing median and variation in samples taken from rainwater.
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Figure 3. Box and whisker plot showing median and variation in samples taken from groundwater.
Figure 3. Box and whisker plot showing median and variation in samples taken from groundwater.
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Figure 4. Box and whisker plot showing median and variation in samples taken from tap water.
Figure 4. Box and whisker plot showing median and variation in samples taken from tap water.
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Table 1. Scope and methodology for determining microbiological properties of water.
Table 1. Scope and methodology for determining microbiological properties of water.
Tested ParameterMethod/Standard
Total bacteria count at 22° (72 h)Culture method on standard nutrient agar; PN-EN ISO 6222:2004 [25]
Total bacteria count at 37 °C (48 h)
Enumeration of microorganismsPartec Cube 6 flow cytometer
ATP concentrationLuminometric determination; www.promega.com/protocols (accessed on 30 September 2023).
Table 2. Statistical parameters—correlation coefficients for surface water.
Table 2. Statistical parameters—correlation coefficients for surface water.
AveragePsychrophilic Bacteria AGAR APsychrophilic Bacteria AGAR R2AMesophilic Bacteria AGAR AMesophilic Bacteria AGAR R2ASumRLUThe Number of Particles SYBRGreen
Psychrophilic bacteria AGAR A43,7241.0000.9850.7530.7100.9880.7800.111
Psychrophilic bacteria AGAR R2A62,397-1.0000.7640.7320.9930.8320.116
Mesophilic bacteria AGAR R2A85,326--1.0000.9510.8200.6470.126
Mesophilic bacteria AGAR R2A13,590---1.0000.7890.6110.217
Sum128,235----1.0000.8130.128
RLU459,769-----1.0000.093
The number of particles SYBRGreen236,571------1.000
Table 3. Statistical parameters—correlation coefficients for rainwater.
Table 3. Statistical parameters—correlation coefficients for rainwater.
AveragePsychrophilic Bacteria AGAR APsychrophilic Bacteria AGAR R2AMesophilic Bacteria AGAR AMesophilic Bacteria AGAR R2ASumRLUThe Number of Particles SYBR Green
Psychrophilic bacteria AGAR A18341.0000.9940.9810.9820.9970.5320.389
Psychrophilic bacteria AGAR R2A2307-1.0000.9840.9740.9960.5190.411
Mesophilic bacteria AGAR R2A823--1.0000.9820.9910.4910.419
Mesophilic bacteria AGAR R2A1361---1.0000.9880.4580.375
Sum632----1.0000.5090.401
RLU41,687-----1.0000.725
The number of particles SYBR Green93,781------1.000
Table 4. Statistical parameters—correlation coefficients for groundwater.
Table 4. Statistical parameters—correlation coefficients for groundwater.
AveragePsychrophilic Bacteria AGAR APsychrophilic Bacteria AGAR R2AMesophilic Bacteria AGAR AMesophilic Bacteria AGAR R2ASumRLUThe Number of Particles SYBR Green
Psychrophilic bacteria AGAR A81.0000.8520.4610.4760.8510.6090.497
Psychrophilic bacteria AGAR R2A21-1.0000.6210.6700.9680.6970.264
Mesophilic bacteria AGAR R2A3--1.0000.7660.7380.8420.270
Mesophilic bacteria AGAR R2A12---1.0000.8090.7680.316
Sum44----1.0000.7980.361
RLU267-----1.0000.287
The number of particlesSYBR Green2069------1.000
Table 5. Statistical parameters—correlation coefficients for tap water.
Table 5. Statistical parameters—correlation coefficients for tap water.
AveragePsychrophilic Bacteria AGAR APsychrophilic Bacteria AGAR R2AMesophilic Bacteria Agar AMesophilic Bacteria AGAR R2ASumRLUThe Number of Particles SYBR Green
Psychrophilic bacteria AGAR A521.0000.5310.3080.5000.6500.0160.013
Psychrophilic bacteria AGAR R2A144-1.0000.7840.8570.9530.153−0.014
Mesophilic bacteria AGAR R2A54--1.0000.7210.8020.110−0.025
Mesophilic bacteria AGAR R2A166---1.0000.9320.266−0.044
Sum416----1.0000.1840.003
RLU9291-----1.0000.053
The number of particles SYBR Green5308------1.000
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Zamorska, J.; Karwowska, E.; Przystaś, W. Assessment of Microbiological Quality of Water Using Culture Methods, Flow Cytometry and Luminometry. Water 2023, 15, 4077. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15234077

AMA Style

Zamorska J, Karwowska E, Przystaś W. Assessment of Microbiological Quality of Water Using Culture Methods, Flow Cytometry and Luminometry. Water. 2023; 15(23):4077. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15234077

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Zamorska, Justyna, Ewa Karwowska, and Wioletta Przystaś. 2023. "Assessment of Microbiological Quality of Water Using Culture Methods, Flow Cytometry and Luminometry" Water 15, no. 23: 4077. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15234077

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