Abstract
The occurrence and removal of fecal indicators (total coliforms (TC), fecal coliforms (FC), fecal streptococci (FS)) and pathogens (helminthes eggs) were studied in various municipal wastewater treatment processes (UASB + FPU, ASP, EA, WSP). The reductions in TC and FC concentrations were usually between 2.0 and 2.5 log units in up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor incorporated with final polishing unit (UASB + FPU). Almost similar reduction was observed in activated sludge process system (ASP) and waste stabilization ponds system (WSP), while it was log 3.0 in extended aeration system (EA). UASB + FPU and WSP systems were observed more efficient to reduce helminthes eggs at almost 100%, whereas only 97% removal was observed in case of ASP and EA system. In addition to monitoring of indicator organisms, turbidity, suspended solids (SS), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) were used as indirect measure of the potential presence of microorganisms. Interrelationship of BOD, SS, and turbidity with fecal indicator bacteria concentration in influent and effluent manifest that improvement of the microbiological quality of wastewater is strongly linked to the removal of BOD and SS.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
APHA, AWWA, WEF (2005). Standards methods for the examination of water and wastewater (21st edn.). Washington: American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association and Water Environmental Federation.
Ayres, R. M., & Mara, D. D. (1996). Analysis of wastewater for use in agriculture: A laboratory manual of parasitological and bacteriological techniques. Geneva: WHO.
Bahlaoui, M. A., Baleux, B., & Troussellier, M. (1997). Dynamics of pollution indicator and pathogenic bacteria in high-rate oxidation wastewater treatment ponds. Water Resource, 31(2), 630–638.
Bitton, G. (2005). Wastewater microbiology (3rd edn.). New Jersey: Wiley.
Campos, C., Guerrero, A., & Cardenas, M. (2002). Removal of bacterial and viral fecal indicator organisms in a waste stabilization pond system in Choconata, Cundinamarca (Colombia). Water Science Technology, 45(1), 61–66.
Ceballos, B. S. O., Konig, A., Lomans, B., Athayde, A. B., & Pearson, H. W. (1995). Evaluation of a tropical single cell waste stabilization pond system for irrigation. Water Science Technology, 31(12), 267–273.
Chavez, A., Jimenez, B., & Maya, C. (2004). Particle size distribution as a useful tool for microbial detection. Water Science Technology, 50(2), 179–186.
Cinque, K., Stevens, M. A., Roser, D. J., Ashbolt, N. J., & Leeming, R. (2004). Assessing the health implications of turbidity and suspended particles in protected catchments. Water Science Technology, 50(1), 205–210.
CPCB (2005). Sewage pollution. Delhi: Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Davies-Colley, R. J., Speed, D. J., Donnison, A. M., Ross, C. M., & Nagels, J. W. (1999). Inactivation of fecal indicator micro-organisms in waste stabilization ponds: interactions of environmental factors with sunlight. Water Resource, 33, 1220–1230.
Drift, C. V. D., Seggelen, E. V., Stumm, C., Hol, W., & Tuinte, J. (1977). Removal of E. coli in wastewater by activated sludge. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 34(3), 315–319.
Feacham, R. G. A., Bradley, D. J., Garelick, H., & Mara, D. D. (1981). Appropriate technology for water supply and sanitation: Health aspects of excreta and sludge management; a state of art review (Vol. 3, IX, p. 318). Washington DC: World Bank.
Garcia, M., & Becares, E. (1997). Bacterial removal in three pilot-scale wastewater treatment systems for rural areas. Water Science Technology, 35(11–12), 197–200.
George, I., Crop, P., & Servais, P. (2002). Fecal coliform removal in wastewater treatment plants studied by plate counts and enzymatic methods. Water Resource, 36, 2607–2617.
Hirn, J. (1980). Indicator bacteria and salmonella in food processing and domestic effluent. Journal Water Pollution Control Federation, 52(1), 48–52.
Knorr, A. E., & Torrella, F. (1995). Microbiological performance and Salmonella dynamics in a wastewater depuration pond system of southeastern Spain. Water Science Technology, 31(12), 239–248.
Koivunen, J., Siitonen, A., & Tanski, H. H. (2003). Elimination of enteric bacteria in biological- chemical wastewater treatment and tertiary filtration units. Water Resource, 37, 690–698.
Madera, C. A., Pena, M. R., & Mara, D. D. (2002). Microbiological quality of a waste stabilization pond effluent used for restricted irrigation in Valle Del Cauca, Colombia. Water Science Technology, 45(1), 139–143.
Mahler, B. J., Personne, J. C., Lods, G. F., & Drogue, C. (2000). Transport of free and particulate- associated bacteria in Karst. Journal of Hydrology, 238, 179–193.
Mallin, M. A. (2002–2003). BOD concentrations, loading and sources in the lower Cape Fear river system. http://www.uncwil.edu/cmsr/aquaticecology/LCFRP/WQ%20Reports/02–03/Sec4_BOD.htm.
Mallin, M. A., Williams, K. E., Esham, E. C., & Lowe, R. P. (2000). Effect of human development on bacteriological water quality in coastal watershed. Ecological Application, 10(4), 1047–1056.
Mara, D. D., & Silva, S. A. (1986). Removal of intestinal nematode eggs in tropical waste stabilization ponds. Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 89, 71–74.
Meyer-Reil, L. A., Bolter, M., Liebezeit, G., & Schramm, W. (1979). Short-term variations in microbiological and chemical parameters. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 1, 1–6.
Miescer, J. J., & Cabelli, V. J. (1982). Enterococci and other microbial indicators in municipal wastewater effluents. Journal Water Pollution Control Federation, 54(12), 1599–1606.
Miller, J. B., Braford, L., & Coriolis, A. D. (2006). Understanding dynamics of fecal coliforms removal in a biological wastewater treatment facility at Oberlin College. http://www.oberlin.edu/faculty/petersen/ENVS316/ProjectResources/LM_FC_BOD_Relationships_Poster2006.ppt.
Ng, W. J., Sim, T. S., Ong, S. L., Ng, K. Y., Ramasamy, M., & Tan, K. N. (1993). Fate of coliforms and coliphages in the sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Bioresource Technology, 46(3), 197–205.
Omura, T., Onuma, M., Aizawa, J., Umita, T., & Yagi, T. (1989). Removal efficiencies of indicator micro-organisms in sewage treatment plants. Water Science Technology, 21(3), 119–124.
Pearson, H. W., Mara, D. D., Mills, S. W., & Smallman, D. J. (1987). Physico-chemical parameters influencing fecal bacterial survival in waste stabilization ponds. Water Science Technology, 19(12), 129–139.
Rose, J. B., Dickson, L. J., Farrah, S. R., & Carnahan, R. P. (1996). Removal of pathogenic and indicator microorganisms by full-scale water reclamation facility. Water Resource, 30(11), 2785–2797.
Sandhya, S., & Parhad, N. M. (1988). Removal of Salmonella from multicell wastewater ponds. Indian Journal of Environmental Health, 31(1), 18–25.
Sato, N., Okubo, T., Onodera, T., Ohashi, A., & Harada, H. (2006). Prospects for a self-sustainable sewage treatment system: A case study on full-scale UASB system in India’s Yamuna River Basin. Journal of Environmental Management, 80, 198–207.
Shankararamakrishnan, N., & Guo, Q. (2005). Chemical tracers as indicator of human fecal coliforms at storm water outfalls. Environment International, 31, 1133–1140.
Shilton, A. (2005). Pond treatment technology. Integrated environmental technology series. London: IWA.
Tsai, C. T., Lai, J. S., & Lin, S. T. (1998). Quantification of pathogenic microorganisms in the sludge from treated hospital wastewater. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 85(1), 171–176.
Turbidity (2003). Guideline for water quality: Supporting documentation. Ottawa: Federal-provincial-territorial committee on health and the environment.
Veerannan, K. M. (1977). Effect of sewage treatment by stabilization pond method on the survival of intestinal parasites. Indian Journal of Environmental Health, 19(2), 100–106.
Williams, J., Bahgat, M., May, E., Ford, M., & Butler, J. (1995). Mineralization and pathogen removal in gravel bed hydroponic constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. Water Science and Technology, 32(3), 49–58.
World Health Organization (2006). Health guidelines for the use of waste water in agriculture and aquaculture. Geneva: WHO.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tyagi, V.K., Sahoo, B.K., Khursheed, A. et al. Fate of coliforms and pathogenic parasite in four full-scale sewage treatment systems in India. Environ Monit Assess 181, 123–135 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1818-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1818-4