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Disinfection serves as a pivotal strategy for safeguarding the microbial safety of reclaimed water. Nevertheless, in practical engineering scenarios, disinfection residual bacteria (DRB) can engender a spectrum of secondary risks, encompassing compromised process efficiency, public health hazards, and ecological disruptions, thereby presenting a formidable obstacle during the wastewater reclamation and reuse. At present, existing concepts fall short of comprehensively characterizing DRB that exhibit diverse survival strategies. Based on the reasons underlying their survival, DRB can be stratified into three subtypes: genotypically resistant bacteria (GRB), phenotypically resistant bacteria (also known as persisters, abbreviated as PRB), and non-resistant residual bacteria (NRB). GRB constitute the predominant proportion among these categories. DRB and NRB primarily highlights the outcome of bacterial survival, an individual trait with strong randomness. Conversely, GRB accentuates the intrinsic properties of bacteria, embodying a population-level trait with genetically encoded heritable resistance. PRB underscores the differential gene expression observed within a subset of individuals belonging to the same bacterial species, thereby constituting a subpopulation characteristic of bacterial cells. This is a phenotypic resistance jointly determined by genetic predispositions and environmental stressors. NRB, devoid of inherent resistance, evade inactivation due to environmental factors, such as physical shielding. Systematic classification of DRB, establishes a robust theoretical framework for the efficient control and risk reduction of these bacteria. This endeavor holds paramount importance for ensuring the microbial safety of reclaimed water, thereby advancing the cause of sustainable water resource management. • Classify of disinfection residual bacteria based on survival reasons • Define three different types of disinfection residual bacteria (DRB) • Clarify the connotation and applicability of concepts • Compare the genetic characteristics of resistance among different DRBs