Fungi in Potable Water Distribution Systems

Abstract

Of 207 samples collected from various locations in five small municipal water distribution systems, 103 (49.8 percent) were positive for fungi. Counts ranged between 1 and 6 fungal propagules per 50‐mL sample. Four genera, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium , and Penicillium , accounted for 58 percent of the isolates, with Aspergillus the most common (18.4 percent). Statistical analysis of the data to determine any relationship between the presence and number of fungal isolates and five physicochemical and two bacteriological parameters revealed no significant correlations.