Effective utilization of biofiltration techniques for removal of pathogenic microorganisms from wastewater treatment plants

The issue of sludge utilization from wastewater treatment in agriculture is an important socio-economic and environmental problem in the European Union (EU) and Bulgaria. It is becoming topical issue along with constantly growing amount of produced wastewater treatment sludge, deficiency of lands for their safe disposal, protests of population and interests’ groups, tightening EU restrictions, etc. Furthermore, studies on wastewater treatment sludge utilization are multiplying in relations with their «transformation from wastes into products» and effective inclusion in supply chains and circular economy. Despite their relevance, in-depth studies of the diverse effects and critical factors of wastewater treatment sludge utilization in Bulgarian agri-food chain are at an early stage, mostly focusing on agronomic, economic and/or environmental ones. Thus, the object of research is the effective utilization of sludge from wastewater treatment in Bulgarian agriculture. In the course of the research it is used a qualitative analysis of regulations, and institutional and organizational structure, as well as surveys with managers and experts of urban wastewater treatment plants, and farmers applying and not-using sludge from wastewater treatment in their holdings. As a result of the study, the institutional, political, organizational, personal, educational, informational, social, economic, and environmental factors influencing the utilization of sludge in agriculture in two major regions of the country (Sofia and Burgas) are identified. Impact factors are generally divided into two types: factors influencing the behavior of agents, and factors determining the type and extent of the effects of sludge use in agriculture. In the future, the proposed approach has to be extended and deepen to establish the economic, sectoral and regional specificities on the basis of more representative information from all participants and interested parties in the effective utilization of wastewater treatment sludge.

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Microbial reduction in wastewater treatment using Fe3+ and Al3+ coagulants and PAA disinfectant

Journal of Water and Health ◽

10.2166/wh.2013.241 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 581-589 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Surendra K. Pradhan ◽

Ari Kauppinen ◽

Kati Martikainen ◽

Tarja Pitkänen ◽

Jaana Kusnetsov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Municipal Wastewater ◽

Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽

Microbial Reduction ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽

Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽

Tertiary Treatment ◽

Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽

Norovirus Gii

Wastewater is an important source of pathogenic enteric microorganisms in surface water and a major contaminating agent of drinking water. Although primary and secondary wastewater treatments reduce the numbers of microorganisms in wastewater, significant numbers of microbes can still be present in the effluent. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of tertiary treatment for municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) using PIX (FeCl3) or PAX (AlCl3) coagulants and peracetic acid (PAA) the disinfectant to reduce microbial load in effluent. Our study showed that both PIX and PAX efficiently reduced microbial numbers. PAA disinfection greatly reduced the numbers of culturable indicator microorganisms (Escherichia coli, intestinal enterococci, F-specific RNA coliphages and somatic DNA coliphages). In addition, pathogenic microorganisms, thermotolerant Campylobacter, Salmonella and norovirus GI, were successfully reduced using the tertiary treatments. In contrast, clostridia, Legionella, rotavirus, norovirus GII and adenovirus showed better resistance against PAA compared to the other microorganisms. However, interpretation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis results will need further studies to clarify the infectivity of the pathogenic microbes. In conclusion, PIX and PAX flocculants followed by PAA disinfectant can be used as a tertiary treatment for municipal WWTP effluents to reduce the numbers of indicator and pathogenic microorganisms.

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Analysis and balance of phosphorous removal from wastewater at urban wastewater treatment plant

Pollack Periodica ◽

10.1556/606.2020.15.2.13 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 142-151

Author(s):

Peter Lukac ◽

Lubos Jurik

Keyword(s):

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Wastewater Treatment Plant ◽

Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽

Sewage Treatment ◽

Sewage Treatment Plant ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Phosphorus Recovery ◽

Anaerobic Sludge ◽

Biological Phosphorus Removal ◽

The Mean

Abstract:Phosphorus is a major substance that is needed especially for agricultural production or for the industry. At the same time it is an important component of wastewater. At present, the waste management priority is recycling and this requirement is also transferred to wastewater treatment plants. Substances in wastewater can be recovered and utilized. In Europe (in Germany and Austria already legally binding), access to phosphorus-containing sewage treatment is changing. This paper dealt with the issue of phosphorus on the sewage treatment plant in Nitra. There are several industrial areas in Nitra where record major producers in phosphorus production in sewage. The new wastewater treatment plant is built as a mechanicalbiological wastewater treatment plant with simultaneous nitrification and denitrification, sludge regeneration, an anaerobic zone for biological phosphorus removal at the beginning of the process and chemical phosphorus precipitation. The sludge management is anaerobic sludge stabilization with heating and mechanical dewatering of stabilized sludge and gas management. The aim of the work was to document the phosphorus balance in all parts of the wastewater treatment plant - from the inflow of raw water to the outflow of purified water and the production of excess sludge. Balancing quantities in the wastewater treatment plant treatment processes provide information where efficient phosphorus recovery could be possible. The mean daily value of P tot is approximately 122.3 kg/day of these two sources. The mean daily value of P tot is approximately 122.3 kg/day of these two sources. There are also two outflows - drainage of cleaned water to the recipient - the river Nitra - 9.9 kg Ptot/day and Ptot content in sewage sludge - about 120.3 kg Ptot/day - total 130.2 kg Ptot/day.

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