Seasonal Abundance of Fecal Indicators and Opportunistic Pathogens in Roof-Harvested Rainwater Tanks

Here we provide seasonal data on the concentrations of total coliform, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. and six opportunistic pathogens (Acanthamoeba spp., Legionella spp., Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) of public health significance in 24 tank water samples over six monthly sampling events from August 2015 to March 2006. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays were chosen for the quantification of six opportunistic pathogens and culture-based methods were used for the enumeration of fecal indicators. The data fle has been stored in a publicly available repository. The data on concentrations of opportunistic pathogens in RHRW will provide information for rainwater users regarding potential seasonality of risks. Quantitative data presented in this study can be used to perform quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) of RHRW for various potable and nonpotable uses. Data can be used by health regulators to develop guidelines related to RHRW.


Overview Introduction/Study Description
Roof-harvested rainwater (RHRW) is currently being used globally to supplement potable and nonpotable water supplies. Pathogens can enter into the tanks through aerosol deposition, plant litter, and animal fecal matter via roof runoff. Case-control studies have reported some associations between untreated rainwater consumption and gastroenteritis based on enteric pathogens [1]. Improvements in disinfection practices for centralized drinking water systems have reduced the disease burden of enteric pathogens in some regions. Because of this, increased attention has been devoted to opportunistic pathogens that grow in biofilms on the surfaces of distribution system and premise plumbing pipes [2]. Opportunistic pathogens cause illness primarily for immunocompromised people [3]. A high abundance of opportunistic pathogens in tank water samples has been reported [4,5,6] supporting the need to consider potential health risks. However, most studies in the research literature reported the occurrence/abundance of opportunistic pathogens based on testing a sample at a single time-point from a tank. Therefore, there is a paucity of information available regarding seasonal or temporal variations in opportunistic pathogen occurrence and abundance. Here we provide seasonal data on the concentrations of fecal indicators (total coliform, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp.) and six opportunistic pathogens (Acanthamoeba spp., Legionella spp., Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) of public health significance in tank water over six monthly sampling events. qPCR methods were chosen for the quantification of six opportunistic pathogens and culture-based methods were used for the enumeration of three fecal indicators.

Spatial coverage
Brisbane and Currumbin Ecovillage, Southeast Queensland, Australia

Methods
Quantitative qPCR assays were used to measure the concentrations of six opportunistic pathogens in 24 RHRW tanks over six months. In addition, total coliform, E. coli and Enterococcus spp. were enumerated using culturebased methods.

Sampling strategy
Monthly water samples were collected from 24 roof-harvested rainwater tanks on six separate events from August 2015 to March 2016, giving a total number of 144 tank water samples. The tap/spigot connected directly to the rainwater tank was wiped with 70% ethanol, and the stored water was run for 15 s prior to filling a 10 L sterile container. Samples were immediately transported to the laboratory, kept at 4°C, and processed within 6-12 h.

Steps
Colilert and Enterolert (IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, Maine, USA) Test kits were used to determine the concentrations of FIB (total coliforms, E. coli, and Enterococcus spp. in 100 mL of each tank water sample. For the measurements of opportunistic pathogens in tank water samples, a 10 L water sample from each rainwater tank was concentrated by a hollow-fiber ultrafiltration system using Hemoflow FX 80 dialysis filters (Fresenius Medical Care, Bad Homburg, Germany) as previously described [6]. The concentrated sample was filtered through a 0.45 µm cellulose filter paper (Advantec, Tokyo, Japan), and stored at −80°C until DNA extraction. DNA was extracted using a PowerSoil Max DNA Kit (MO BIO, Carlsbad, California, USA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. qPCR assays were performed using previously published primers, probes, and optimized reaction mixtures and cycling parameters [7]. Standard curves for all qPCR assays were constructed using synthesized plasmid DNA Integrated DNA Technologies, Coralville, IA, U.S.A.). The purified plasmid DNA was serially diluted to create a standard ranging from 1 × 10 6 to 1 gene copies per µL of DNA. For each standard, the genomic copies were plotted against the cycle number at which the fluorescence signal increased above the quantification cycle value (C q value). All qPCR reactions were performed in triplicate using a Bio-Rad CFX96 thermal cycler. The qPCR method limit of quantification (MLOQ) was also determined from the C q values obtained for each standard. The minimum concentration of copies from the standard series detected in 3/3 qPCR replicated was considered qPCR LLOQ. The dilution below this series was considered the method limit of detection (MLOD).

Quality Control
Method and reagent blank runs were included during the sample processing steps to ensure to detect carry over contamination. No carryover contamination was observed. To minimize qPCR contamination, DNA extraction and qPCR setup were performed in separate laboratories. The minimum information for publication of quantitative real-time PCR experiments (MIQE) guidelines were used throughout the qPCR quantification of opportunistic pathogens [8].

Privacy
Each roof-harvested rainwater tank was designated to a unique ID (T1, T2, T3 and T4 etc.) to to anonymise the data.

Data type
Primary and processed data.

Reuse potential
The data on concentrations of opportunistic pathogens in RHRW will provide information for rainwater users regarding potential seasonality of risks. Quantitative data presented in this study can be used to perform quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) of RHRW for various potable and nonpotable uses. Data can be used by health regulators to develop guidelines related to RHRW.