Low Cost Sustainable Pathogen Removal in Wastewater
Annual Conference
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Removal of pathogens present in wastewater is an ongoing issue for wastewater water treatment operators. One approach to removal is installation of high technology, high cost solutions. Another approach is to assess and optimise lower technology but low cost sustainable treatment systems.
Waste stabilisation ponds (WSP) offer a sustainable and economical method of treatment for wastewater across the world. Pathogen removal mechanisms occurring within ponds are largely unknown and only a few studies have been conducted on virus removal. While it is clear that sunlight (UV) and temperature play a major role in removal of pathogens in WSP’s there are other mechanisms present in these complex systems that also play their part in removal of pathogens such as viruses.
Our research investigates virus (and indicator organism) removal efficiencies of WSP, mechanisms of removal independent of sunlight such as attachment and settlement, enzyme action and predation. The research presented here is the attachment and settlement of indicator organisms (bacterial and viral) compared with pathogenic viruses in WSP.