Microbial ecology of biofiltration used for producing safe drinking water

ABSTRACT: Biofiltration is a water purification technology playing a pivotal role in producing safe drinking water. This technology attracts many interests worldwide due to its advantages, such as no addition of chemicals, a low energy input, and a high removal efficiency of organic compounds, undesirable taste and odours, and pathogens. The current review describes the microbial ecology of three biofiltration processes that are routinely used in drinking water treatment plants, i.e. (i) rapid sand filtration (RSF), (ii) granular activated carbon filtration (GACF), and (iii) slow sand filtration (SSF). We summarised and compared the characteristics, removal performance, and corresponding (newly revealed) mechanisms of the three biofiltration processes. Specifically, the microbial ecology of the different biofilter processes and the role of microbial communities in removing nutrients, organic compounds, and pathogens were reviewed. Finally, we highlight the limitations and challenges in the study of biofiltration in drinking water production, and propose future perspectives for obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the microbial ecology of biofiltration, which is needed to promote and optimise its further application. KEY POINTS: • Biofilters are composed of complex microbiomes, primarily shaped by water quality. • Conventional biofilters contribute to address safety challenges in drinking water. • Studies may underestimate the active/functional role of microbiomes in biofilters. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00253-022-12013-x.