Fungal Risk Analysis and Traceability in Packaged Drinking Water Production Systems

Abstract:

The abundance, composition, and distribution of fungal contaminants in packaged drinking water production systems and environments were systematically investigated in both flood and drought hydrological seasons. The risk of fungal contamination in each water treatment process and the effectiveness of fungal removal were also evaluated. Raw water, water treatment processing materials, and the production environment were found to be contaminated by fungi to varying degrees during both the flood and drought periods. Notably, the highest level of fungal contamination was observed in raw water during the flood period, reaching 0.51 CFU/mL. The study revealed that using 100 μm and 0.2 μm filter membranes effectively removed fungi, with removal rates reaching 34.78% and 83.33%, respectively. Furthermore, Penicillium and Aspergillus were identified as the primary dominant fungal genera in the packaged drinking water production system. The contamination rates of Penicillium and Aspergillus were 28.99% and 37.68%, respectively, during the flood period and 18.87% and 50.94%, respectively, during the drought period. The analysis results indicated that raw water serves as the primary source of fungal contamination in the packaged drinking water treatment process. Production materials, including bottle blanks, caps, and bottles, were also identified as contributors to fungal contamination. These findings provide valuable data for the identification of fungal risks in packaged drinking water production systems and for the implementation of traceability, prevention, and control measures in the water treatment process.