Seasonally recurring patterns of dominant Crenothrix spp. in a European alluvial drinking water well : Significance and potential indicator role
Recent Publication
Despite modern oxygenation systems, a drinking water well repeatedly showed conspicuous black coloration due to particles - a clear sign of problems with the removal of iron and manganese. To get to the bottom of this, a research team from KL's Water Quality and Health department investigated the affected well and seven others in the surrounding area, supplemented by adjacent surface waters. Microbiological and chemical data was collected over a period of two and a half years. A bacterium called Crenothrix, which appeared in large numbers in summer but almost disappeared in winter, was particularly noticeable. The researchers suspect that this bacterium is linked to seasonal changes in the groundwater - such as methane formation and changing oxygen levels. While Crenothrix dominated in the problem well, it was barely detectable or not detectable at all in others.
Steinbacher, S. D., Priselac, K., Kandler, W., Savio, D., Vierheilig, J., Mayer, R., Demeter, K., Linke, R. B., Mach, R. L., Sommer, R., Lindner, G., Zuser, K., Kolm, C., Stevenson, M. E., Blaschke, A. P., Kirschner, A. K. T., Leifels, M., & Farnleitner, A. H. (2025). Seasonally recurring patterns of dominant Crenothrix spp. in a European alluvial drinking water well: Significance and potential indicator role. Water Research, 279, 123406. Article 123406. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2025.123406
Dr. René Mayer
Scientific Staff (PostDoc)
Department of Water Quality and Health
Karen Zuser MSc
Head of laboratory
Department of Water Quality and Health
Ass. Prof. DI Dr. Claudia Kolm Bakk
Scientific Staff (PostDoc)
Department of Water Quality and Health
Assoc. Prof. PD Mag. Dr. Alexander Kirschner
Scientific Staff (Sen. PostDoc)
Department of Water Quality and Health
Univ.-Prof. PD Dr. Andreas Farnleitner MSc
Head of
Department of Water Quality and Health
Dr. Mats Leifels
Scientific Staff (PostDoc)
Department of Water Quality and Health