Microbial spatial distribution and corrosion evaluation in urban sewer systems with different service lives

In the present study, distribution characteristics and biodiversity of microbial communities from four real sewer pipes in urban residential area were studied. The differences of microbial community were observed in spatial distribution. The genus of Mycobacterium, Acidiphilium and Acidithiobacillus were mainly detected in the upper and middle part. Methanthrix, Longilinea and Desulfobulbus were dominant in the bottom part. Total nitrogen, sulfate and oxidation-reduction potential were identified to be the crucial driving factors in the formation of microbial community. The corrosion differences in different sites primarily resulted from the differences of microbial communities in upper parts. From the evaluation of microbial induced concrete corrosion, sulfate-reducing bacteria and fermentation bacteria in bottom part and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in upper part played a major role. Further, the middle and end of the sewer pipes faced greater risk of concrete corrosion than the beginning parts.

Automated summary

This study investigated the distribution characteristics and biodiversity of microbial communities in urban residential sewer pipes. The study found differences in spatial distribution of microbial communities, which were influenced by total nitrogen, sulfate, and oxidation-reduction potential. Corrosion differences in different sites were primarily attributed to variations in microbial communities in the upper parts, with sulfate-reducing bacteria and fermentation bacteria playing a major role in concrete corrosion in the bottom part, and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in the upper part. The middle and end of the sewer pipes faced a greater risk of concrete corrosion compared to the beginning parts.