Source-to-Tap Assessment of Microbiological Water Quality in Small Rural Drinking Water Systems in Puerto Rico Six Months After Hurricane Maria

Maria made a landfall in Puerto Rico
on September 20, 2017 as a
category 4 hurricane, causing severe flooding, widespread electricity
outages, damage to infrastructure, and interruptions in water and
wastewater treatment. Small rural community water systems face unique
challenges in providing drinking water, which intensify after natural
disasters. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functionality
of six very small rural public water systems and one large regulated
system in Puerto Rico six months after Maria and survey a broad sweep
of fecal, zoonotic, and opportunistic pathogens from the source to
tap. Samples were collected from surface and groundwater sources,
after water treatment and after distribution to households. Genes
indicative of pathogenic Leptospira spp. were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in all systems
reliant on surface water sources. Salmonella spp. was detected in surface and groundwater sources and some distribution
system water both by culture and PCR. Legionella spp. and Mycobacteria spp. gene numbers
measured by quantitative PCR were similar to nonoutbreak conditions
in the continental U.S. Amplicon sequencing provided a nontarget screen
for other potential pathogens of concern. This study aids in improving
future preparedness, assessment, and recovery operations for small
rural water systems after natural disasters.