Numerous chronic
health effects might be caused by the presence
of chemical constituents in reclaimed water; however, an acute risk
for water-borne diseases is mostly associated with pathogens. For
potable reuse applications, the greatest risk among pathogens is posed
by viruses due to their small size and low infectious dose. An advanced
water treatment train not utilizing high-pressure membranes but employing
the novel SMARTplus biofilter with highly controlled
plug-flow and redox conditions was proposed and tested during a 3D-pilot-scale
study as a barrier against viruses. Spiking tests with bacteriophages
(MS2 and ϕX174) and murine norovirus-1, accompanied by the conservative
tracer, primidone, were conducted to study their transport and maximal
reduction under controlled hydraulic conditions. While maintaining
plug-flow conditions, mean log reduction values (LRVs) of 5.1, 5.0,
and 3.5 were achieved for MS2, ϕX174, and murine norovirus-1,
respectively. Given the short hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12.6
h and a travel distance of 6 m, the demonstrated LRVs in the pilot-scale
SMARTplus bioreactor were significantly higher than
conventional slow sand filters. This SMARTplus-based
advanced water treatment train, employing post UV-disinfection followed
by subsequent groundwater recharge as environmental buffer, would
comply with the performance targets for potable water reuse defined
by WHO.