An emerging research reveals that a glass of water contains 10 million bacteria. You definitely read that right but there is no reason to panic as these are the "good" ones. These microbes, in fact, aid in purifying the water that we gulp in every day.
Even though their long existence has remained unnoticeable, new research confirms that there are millions of good bacteria out in the water pipes and purification plants that make our drinking water safe to consume. A clean tap water always has harmless bacteria, according to researchers.
Otherwise known as biofilms, these thin, sticky-based microbes spurt and engulf along the surfaces of water pipelines and treatment plants. These findings add to the varied species of microorganisms and the use they may have that are yet to be discovered. Researchers suggest that these bacteria start the purifying process even while water is still in water pipes and not just on treatment plants alone. Advanced DNA sequencing and flow cytometry technology were used to see these bacteria. Researcher Catherine Paul from Lund University claimed to have counted 80,000 microorganisms per milliliter.
Microbes seen on pipes reached up to thousands of varieties. The researchers suggest that there is a correlation between bacteria composition and water quality.
Just like the "good" bacteria lingering in our tummies to aid in food digestion and illness protection, researchers believe that these actually help purify water. Even if the research was based in Sweden, these bacteria and biofilms are found across the world.
This knowledge may soon help experts update and improve the water pipeline system. "The hope is that we eventually may be able to control the composition and quality of water in the water supply to steer the growth of 'good' bacteria that can help purify the water even more efficiently than today," Paul said.
