Detection of enteric viruses in source and treated waters of the city of Hamadan, Iran

Enteric viruses are waterborne pathogens of public health concern. This study uses five different detection methods to investigate the prevalence of viral pathogens in source and treated waters of the city of Hamadan, Iran. The dataset contributes to the body of knowledge on viral occurrence from a region with limited data on enteric viruses in waters. During the summer and autumn, a total of 100 water samples were collected, including 29 from source, 24 from treated waters from two drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs), and 47 from the supply network of groundwater wells in the city of Hamadan, Iran. For each sample, five liters of water samples were collected, concentrated, and analyzed by molecular methods for the detection of enteric viruses. Samples were analyzed using two standard and three multiplex PCR methods for the detection of enteric viruses. Adenoviruses were detected in 24% of the samples, with a significant difference in positivity rates between the sites ( p < 0.0001). Additionally, viral contamination in the source water was significantly higher compared to groundwater wells ( p = 0.0001). Notably, statistical analysis revealed that viral occurrence was higher during the summer than in autumn. In summary, enteric viruses were detected across Hamadan’s drinking water system, indicating potential viral circulation in the environment and highlighting the need for further quantitative and infectivity assessments to evaluate community exposure risks. Notably, viral genome detection in source and treated waters of Hamadan County water supplies should be considered as an indicator of possible contamination, warranting additional monitoring by public health agencies.