Some bacteria cleans water and others indicate there is a problem with water

There are about 80,000 bacteria per

Research has found that clean drinking water might not be so clean after all

Researchers have recently discovered our tap water contains 10 million bacteria.

But don’t worry, these bacteria can actually improve the quality of your water.

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Research has found that clean drinking water isn’t so clean after all. Up until now, we believed our water was pure, but researchers have found tap water contains 10 million bacteria. But don’t worry, these bacteria can actually improve the quality of your water

Researchers from Lund University in Sweden found that these microscopic bacteria grow at the water treatment plant and on the insides of water pipes.

Although harmless, after time they can form a thin, sticky coating on the inside of the pipes called biofilm.

This discovery also revealed there is a huge diversity of bacteria species living in water pipes and they play a more important role than previously thought.

‘A previously completely unknown ecosystem has revealed itself to us,’ said Catherine Paul, one of the researchers from Lund University.

‘Formerly, you could hardly see any bacteria at all and now, thanks to techniques such as massive DNA sequencing and flow cytometry, we suddenly see eighty thousand bacteria per milliliter in drinking water.’

‘From having been in the dark with a flashlight, we are now in a brightly lit room, but it is only one room.’

‘How many different rooms are in the house is also an interesting question!’

The work of doctoral student Katharina Lührig, who works together with Catherine, professors Peter Rådström and Kenneth Persson, and colleagues Björn Canbäck and Tomas Johansson.

According to the researchers, there are at least a couple of thousand difference species and there is also connection between the composition of bacteria and water quality.

‘We suspect there are ‘good’ bacteria that help purify the water and keep it safe – similar to what happens in our bodies,’ said Paul.

‘Our intestines are full of bacteria, and most the time when we are healthy, they help us digest our food and fight illness.’

According to the researchers, there are at least a couple of thousand difference species and there is also connection between the composition of bacteria and water quality. Other bacteria may also suggest there is something wrong with the water, which would result in the pipes rusting or the chlorine content dropping

For example, Sphingomonas was discovered only in high quality drinking water, which can consumer non-desirable organic material, withstand chlorine and even eliminate other toxins and types of plastics that may make their way into your water.

Other bacteria may also suggest there is something wrong with the water, which would result in the pipes rusting or the chlorine content dropping.

TOP 10 TAP WATER CITIES IN THE U.S. New York City: More than one billion gallons every of water travels from the Catskill Mountain reservoirs every day into the concrete jungle. Stevens Point, Wisconsin: Water is pulled from aquifers and treated with chlorine, fluoride and phosphate. Chicago, Illinois: Water is filtered from Lake Michigan and filtered through carbon and sand. Denver, Colorado: Drinking water comes is fed by Rocky Mountain snowmelt. Manchester, New Hampshire: The soft Lake Massabesic water, purified with ozone, has earned kudos from the Partnership for Safe Water for its quality. Fort Collins, Colorado: Mountain snowmelt and the Cache La Poudre River are coal-filtered and chlorine-treated for a crisp, fresh sip. Greenville, South Carolina: This Southern city's smooth-tasting supply hails from a pristine, 26,000-acre area of the Blue Ridge foothills. Silverdale, Washington: The deep Green Mountain aquifer is so pure that the rainwater-fresh H2O can be consumed untreated. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Pumped from six man-made lakes, then filtered and treated with ozone, this neutral-tasting stuff won the AWWA contest in 2007 and 2013. Louisville, Kentucky: Sand and gravel filtration and hundreds of daily tests ensure that even water from the not-so-untouched Ohio River flows from taps sweet and clean. Source: Rodale's Organic Life Advertisement