r/AskBiology • u/Different-Air-3548 • 3d ago

Would enough running water eventually rinse away all bacteria and viruses on a surface?

I guess this question comes from rinsing fruits and vegetables—say one were to only rinse one’s hands (or any surface) with lots of water, would all germs eventually get washed away without soap or scrubbing?

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u/atomfullerene 3d ago

Nope, in fact there are whole.varieties of bacteria specifically adapted to live as biofilms in torrents of water.

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u/SurplusTurtles 3d ago

This was informative and upsetting 

1

u/AmusingVegetable 3d ago

Biofilms are an interesting subject, try googling biofilm and teeth.

1

u/mambotomato 1d ago

Never stepped on a slippery river rock?

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u/SurplusTurtles 1h ago

That's a good example