Bacterial and viral indicators of fecal contamination in drinking water

Plummer, Jeanine D.; Long, Sharon C.; Charest, Abigail J.; Roop, Daniel Oliver

doi:10.5942/jawwa.2014.106.0023

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…It has been reported that pH increase decreases microorganisms and that these organisms survive at pH between 5.5 and 7.5. The correlation between pH and microorganisms are comparable to the findings by Plummer et al (2014) who reported correlations of coliforms and E. coli with pH being −0.222. The same results were reported by Pearson et al (1987) who observed significant negative correlations between FC counts and pH.…”

Section: Correlation Analysissupporting

confidence: 89%

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Evaluation of waste stabilisation pond units for treating domestic wastewater

Letshwenyo

Thumule

Elias

2020

Water & Environment J

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of individual units of waste stabilisation ponds (WSPs) system treating domestic wastewater. The study was conducted by measuring the concentrations of physiochemical parameters and bacteriological indictors in the influent and effluent samples of each pond. The thickness of sludge was determined by measuring depths of sludge layer in each pond. Knowing the performance of each pond will speed up targeted intervention to improve performance. The influent was mainly characterised by 224, 500, 270 mg L−1, 258 Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) respectively, of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity and 35600 coliform forming units/100 ml of faecal coliforms. Bacteriological counts were fluctuating and effluent faecal coliforms counts were 1.22 × 104 ± 2.0 × 102 coliform forming units/100 ml. The hydraulic retention times (HRTs) decreased by 2.0, 13.6 and 7.2 days in the first three ponds and by 3.3 days in the last three ponds. Biochemical oxygen demand in the final effluent was 40 mg L−1 more than the design value of f 25 mg L−1. Chemical oxygen demand in the final effluent was 190 mg L−1, higher than the prescribed limit of 150 mg L−1 of discharge into rivers. Total suspended solids in the final effluent was 150 ± 127 mg L−1 more than the national limit of 25 mg L−1. Total suspended solids and turbidity correlated positively with bacteriological indicators, but there was no correlation with temperature except with faecal coliforms. There was also no correlation observed between suspended solids and pH. The treatment system did not meet the design treatment criteria because of overloading as a result of increased population which exceeded the design value. The final effluent from the system did not meet the discharge limits, therefore, it is unsuitable for discharge into the environment as it can pollute ground and surface waters as well as the open environment. Knowledge on the performance of each pond will help in proper interventions to be undertaken at the targeted pond or unit. It is therefore eminent to desludge each pond as a short‐term solution and expand the system for a long‐term solution.

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Section: Correlation Analysissupporting

confidence: 89%

“…The correlation between pH and microorganisms are comparable to the findings by Plummer et al . (2014) who reported correlations of coliforms and E. coli with pH being −0.222. The same results were reported by Pearson et al .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of waste stabilisation pond units for treating domestic wastewater

Letshwenyo

Thumule

Elias

2020

Water & Environment J

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“…Currently, there are no regulatory standards regarding the reduction of viruses during wastewater treatment; however, a 12 log reduction of viruses in wastewater is required by the California Department of Public Health for reclaimed water intended for indirect potable reuse . Traditional monitoring approaches and guidelines for waters intended for reuse and recreational purposes are based upon fecal indicator bacteria to detect microbial contaminants and designate waters as safe. − However, human pathogenic viruses are more resistant to treatment. − In addition, they show variable correlations with traditional indicators, , demonstrating the inadequacy of bacteria to indicate viral contamination. , Thus, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently suggested coliphages as potential indicators because they are similar in structure, morphology, and assumed resistance to inactivation as human enteric viruses. − To evaluate the incidence, persistence, fate, and transport of human pathogenic viruses, a viral indicator for contamination may be appropriate. Hence, many virus types have recently been proposed as indicators for contamination and microbial-source tracking, including F-RNA phages, , pepper mild mottle virus, − polyomaviruses, ,,,,, and adenoviruses. ,,, …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virus Reduction during Advanced Bardenpho and Conventional Wastewater Treatment Processes

Schmitz

Kitajima

Campillo

et al. 2016

Environ. Sci. Technol.

100

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The present study investigated wastewater treatment for the removal of 11 different virus types (pepper mild mottle virus; Aichi virus; genogroup I, II, and IV noroviruses; enterovirus; sapovirus; group-A rotavirus; adenovirus; and JC and BK polyomaviruses) by two wastewater treatment facilities utilizing advanced Bardenpho technology and compared the results with conventional treatment processes. To our knowledge, this is the first study comparing full-scale treatment processes that all received sewage influent from the same region. The incidence of viruses in wastewater was assessed with respect to absolute abundance, occurrence, and reduction in monthly samples collected throughout a 12 month period in southern Arizona. Samples were concentrated via an electronegative filter method and quantified using TaqMan-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results suggest that Plant D, utilizing an advanced Bardenpho process as secondary treatment, effectively reduced pathogenic viruses better than facilities using conventional processes. However, the absence of cell-culture assays did not allow an accurate assessment of infective viruses. On the basis of these data, the Aichi virus is suggested as a conservative viral marker for adequate wastewater treatment, as it most often showed the best correlation coefficients to viral pathogens, was always detected at higher concentrations, and may overestimate the potential virus risk.

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Occurrence of Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV) in Groundwater from a Karst Aquifer System in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

et al. 2017

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The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico hosts a karst aquifer system that is the only source of freshwater for the area; however, it is vulnerable to human-mediated contamination. Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) is one of the most abundant RNA viruses associated with human feces, making it a viable indicator for tracking fecal pollution in aquatic environments, including groundwater. In this study, groundwater samples collected from a karst aquifer from fresh and brackish water locations were analyzed for fecal indicator bacteria, somatic and male F+ specific coliphages, and PMMoV during the rainy and dry seasons. Total coliform bacteria were detected at all sites, whereas Escherichia coli were found at relatively low levels <40 MPN/100 ml. The highest average concentrations of somatic and male F+ specific coliphages were 920 and 330 plaque forming units per 100 ml, respectively, detected in freshwater during the rainy season. PMMoV RNA was detected in 85% of the samples with gene sequences sharing 99-100% of nucleotide identity with PMMoV sequences available in GenBank. Quantification of PMMoV genome copies (GC) by quantitative real-time PCR indicated concentrations ranging from 1.7 × 10 to 1.0 × 10 GC/L, with the highest number of GC detected during the rainy season. No significant correlation was observed between PMMoV occurrence by season or water type (p > 0.05). Physicochemical and indicator bacteria were not correlated with PMMoV concentrations. The abundance and prevalence of PMMoV in the karst aquifer may reflect its environmental persistence and its potential as a fecal indicator in this karst aquifer system.

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Bacterial and viral indicators of fecal contamination in drinking water

Cited by 7 publications

References 41 publications

Evaluation of waste stabilisation pond units for treating domestic wastewater

Evaluation of waste stabilisation pond units for treating domestic wastewater

Virus Reduction during Advanced Bardenpho and Conventional Wastewater Treatment Processes

Occurrence of Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV) in Groundwater from a Karst Aquifer System in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

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