Virus elimination in wastewater treatment systems - determining rates and developing mathematical models

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Human waterborne pathogens such as bacteria, protozoa and enteric viruses in surface water, which is used for drinking water purposes, are a major health concern. Among the enteric viruses adenovirus 40/41, norovirus, rotavirus and hepatitis A virus occur to a large extent in faecal contaminated water resources worid wide. The main reason for viral contamination of such waters is that during wastewater treatment processes enteric viruses show stronger resistance patterns than bacteria. Thus viral particles are present in the final effluent of wastewater treatment plants and are discharged into surface waters. Dependent on their numbers and on exposure pathways, they cause gastroenteritis related diseases in humans.Up to now the vinjs elimination in wastewater treatment systems, especially in activated sludge processes and separation systems (sedimentation, filtration) is still poorly understood. Therefore in this research project the elimination of F-specific bacteriophages, which are widely used as indicators for enteric viruses in activated sludge systems will be tested dependent on process parameters. In batch experiments selected parameters such as temperature, pH-value, sludge age, sludge loading and hydraulic retention time etc. for virus elimination in activated sludge processes will be determined. The results obtained from those batch experiments will provide fundamental knowledge on process parameters in wastewater treatment plants to achieve maximal viral elimination rates. Additionally the virus removal in sedimentation and filtration processes (separation systems) will be examined. The obtained data will be used to develop a "virus tool" for the existing activated sludge model No. 3 (ASM3), which demonstrates the viral elimination in respect to process parameters for the activated sludge as well as for separation systems. Finally the model will be calibrated, validated and integrated into a plant-wide model. On the basis of the data from our research partners the model will be also applied for virus elimination in rivers.