Survival and Growth of <i>A. aquaticus</i> on Different Food Sources from Drinking Water Distribution Systems
2024
Nikki van Bel | J. Hein M. van Lieverloo | Antonie M. Verschoor | Leonie Pap-Veldhuizen | Wim A. M. Hijnen | Edwin T. H. M. Peeters | Julia Wunderer
Invertebrates, including <i>Asellidae</i>, are part of the natural ecosystem of the drinking water distribution system (DWDS) and are known to cause a nuisance to consumers. In addition, recently, the potential role of the species <i>Asellus aquaticus</i> (L. 1758) in the regrowth of <i>Aeromonas</i> bacteria was published. <i>Aeromonas</i> is included in the Dutch drinking water guidelines as a process parameter, and the guideline values are regularly exceeded. Although neither <i>A. aquaticus</i> nor <i>Aeromonas</i> is associated with health risks, the Evides drinking water utility shows a strong interest in the possible reasons for these exceedances and possible control measures. In surface waters, <i>Asellidae</i> feed mainly on decaying leaves that are abundantly present. These food sources are not present in the DWDS. Therefore, we determined suitable food sources for <i>A. aquaticus</i> in the DWDS. Laboratory experiments show that <i>A. aquaticus</i> individuals survive on biofilm on pipe wall material and loose deposits (sediments) collected from DWDS. Growth and survival rates on these loose deposits were even higher than on the positive control (decaying leaves). As the basis of these loose deposits is inorganic (iron deposits, sand, and pipe particles), the organic matter (living and decaying bacteria, protozoans, fungi, and invertebrates) must be their substrate. These experiments validate hypotheses that <i>Asellidae</i> can grow and survive on organic matter in deposits in DWDS.
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