Nutrient-based selection in building plumbing biofilms

The bacterial community compositions of five drinking waters (2 x bottled, 3 x tapped) were characterised and changes in their diversity and composition were investigated following biofilm growth on a flexible polymeric material that releases bioavailable organic carbon. The goal of this study was to identify the relevance of migrating organic carbon from a typical building plumbing material on nutrient-based selection in establishing biofilm communities.