Drinking water reservoir dynamics: Exploring the interface between design and microbial ecology

This project investigates how the design and operation of service reservoirs influence microbial community dynamics and the biological stability of treated drinking water. Using a combination of high-resolution 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, flow cytometry, and computational analyses, we evaluated temporal and spatial variations in microbial community structure within a South African service reservoir. Samples collected over multiple months and depths revealed that microbial communities were homogeneous within a month across locations, but exhibited significant month-to-month variability linked to seasonal and raw water quality changes. The results highlight the role of reservoir design and operation in shaping microbial stability and underscore the importance of infrastructure considerations for safeguarding drinking water quality.