Shotgun Metagenomics Reveals Impacts of Copper and Water Heater Anodes on Pathogens and Microbiomes in Hot Water Plumbing Systems

Hot water building plumbing systems are vulnerable to the proliferation of opportunistic pathogens (OPs), including Legionella pneumophila and Mycobacterium avium. Implementation of copper as a disinfectant could help reduce OPs, but a mechanistic understanding of the effects on the microbial community under real-world plumbing conditions is lacking. Here, we carried out a controlled pilot-scale study of hot water systems and applied shotgun metagenomic sequencing to examine the effects of copper dose (0-2 mg/L), orthophosphate corrosion control agent, and water heater anode materials (aluminum vs magnesium vs powered anode) on the bulk water and biofilm microbiome composition. Metagenomic analysis revealed that, even though a copper dose of 1.2 mg/L was required to reduce Legionella and Mycobacterium numbers, lower doses (e.g., =0.6 mg/L) measurably impacted the broader microbial community, indicating that the OP strains colonizing these systems were highly copper tolerant. Orthophosphate addition reduced bioavailability of copper, both to OPs and to the broader microbiome. Functional gene analysis indicated that both membrane damage and interruption of nucleic acid replication are likely at play in copper inactivation mechanisms. This study identifies key factors (e.g., orthophosphate, copper resistance, and anode materials) that can confound the efficacy of copper for controlling OPs in hot water plumbing.

Automated summary

This study investigates the effects of copper on the microbial community in hot water plumbing systems. The results show that even low doses of copper can have an impact on the broader microbial community and that opportunistic pathogens in the system are highly copper tolerant. The addition of orthophosphate can reduce the bioavailability of copper. Functional gene analysis suggests that membrane damage and interruption of nucleic acid replication may be involved in the copper inactivation mechanisms.