Metagenomics-based evaluation of groundwater microbial profiles in response to treated wastewater discharge

Abstract

This study aims to demonstrate the use of metagenomics to assess groundwater quality. Metagenomics revealed a lower alpha diversity for both bacteria and virus in wastewater-exposed groundwater compared to the upstream controls. An increase in the relative abundance of Planctomycetes and Picornaviridae was also observed in wastewater-exposed groundwater. However, comparison of antibiotic resistome cannot clearly differentiate wastewater-exposed groundwater from control. Findings suggest that metagenomics can detect selected microbial signatures indicative of treated wastewater discharge.

Keywords: Aquifer recharge; Groundwater quality; Shotgun metagenomics; Water reuse.