Composition, Assembly and Metabolic Function of Bacteria and Archaea in Sewer System of Zhengzhou, China

Urban sewer systems are significantly threatened by detrimental biological activity, necessitating a thorough investigation of the bacterial and archaeal communities involved in microbial-induced concrete corrosion. This study aimed to investigate this microbial composition and spatial distribution to benefit the protection of sewer pipes, particularly through trenchless technology. High-throughput sequencing analysis was conducted on nine samples collected from various locations. The sediment samples were dominated by fermentation bacteria and methanogenic archaea. Additionally, acidophilic bacteria and sulphur-oxidizing bacteria were found to be abundant in the upper part, serving as corrosion degree indicators. The analysis indicated that deterministic processes primarily governed bacterial communities, while stochastic processes predominated in archaeal communities. Furthermore, sewer environmental variables, such as pH and hydrogen sulphide, were identified as effective predictors of both archaeal and bacterial communities. The sewer system was primarily driven by fermentation, acetate-to-methane conversion and assimilatory sulphate reduction. These findings illuminated the spatial distribution of bacteria and archaea in the sewer system, highlighted key metabolic pathways, and provided valuable insights for management and policy-making to mitigate microbial-induced concrete corrosion.