Safeguarding the drinking water quality remains a challenge from the production site to the tap. Alternatively to chemical disinfection, biostable drinking water could serve as a more sustainable approach to produce microbially safe drinking water and to maintain the microbial quality in the drinking water distribution system (DWDS). In this study, the potential of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria (HOB) to produce biostable drinking water was examined in a continuous trickling filter supplied with hydrogen gas. A biofilm was naturally enriched for 5 months and the bacterial regrowth, invasion potential, and nutrient composition of the water were determined. Treatment improved the biostability significantly, and it is hypothesized that nutrient limitation, especially phosphorous, was a driving force. As a result, the regrowth and invasion potential were lowered, as shown with specific biostability bioassays. Overall, this study demonstrates the proof-of-concept of HOB for producing biostable drinking water through nutrient limitation.

从生产现场到水龙头，保护饮用水质量仍然是一项挑战。作为化学消毒的替代方案，生物稳定的饮用水可以作为一种更可持续的方法来生产微生物安全的饮用水，并保持饮用水分配系统 （DWDS） 中的微生物质量。在这项研究中，在供应氢气的连续滴滤器中检查了氢氧化菌 （HOB） 产生生物稳定饮用水的潜力。生物膜自然富集 5 个月，并确定水的细菌再生、侵袭潜力和营养成分。处理显著提高了生物稳定性，据推测，营养限制，尤其是磷，是一个驱动力。结果，再生和侵袭潜力降低，如特异性生物稳定性生物测定所示。总体而言，本研究证明了 HOB 通过营养限制生产生物稳定饮用水的概念验证。