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. 1982 Feb;43(2):378–388. doi: 10.1128/aem.43.2.378-388.1982

Actinomycetes and Fungi in Surface Waters and in Potable Water

R Maarit Niemi 1, Sisko Knuth 1,†, Kenneth Lundström 1,‡
PMCID: PMC241835  PMID: 16345944

Abstract

In Finnish lakes and rivers used as water supplies, mesophilic fungi and actinomycetes were common, whereas thermophilic fungi and actinomycetes were present only in low concentrations. Fungi and actinomycetes were more abundant in eutrophic and mesotrophic lakes than in oligotrophic lakes. River water contained more thermophilic actinomycetes and fungi and mesophilic actinomycetes than did lake water. Runoff from soil seemed to be an important factor contributing to the incidence of these microbes in water. Chemical coagulation removed actinomycetes and fungi efficiently, but sand filtration allowed their passage. Disinfection could not prevent actinomycetes and fungi from reaching the distribution system. During infiltration in the production of recharged groundwater, mesophilic actinomycetes could even multiply appreciably.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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