Abstract
Over the course of a year a series of samples were taken from a wastewater treatment plant handling domestic sewage at each stages of the process, to detect the presence of enteric viral and classical bacterial indicators, and physicochemical parameters.
The viruses were isolated on BGM cell cultures and counted according to the Most Probable Number method.
The values of enteric viruses varied from 102 to 104/L in raw sewage and from 100 to 103 in final effluent.
The efficiency of the plant at each stages during processing was evaluated.
The parameters analysed show a systematic reduction of values between input and output, with average bacteriological reductions of 88% (fecal streptococci), 93% (fecal coliforms) and 94% (total coliforms), viral load reduced by 0–99%. COD and suspended solids showed a reduction of 61 % and 71% respectively.
The 40% of isolated viruses were submitted to identification procedures using molecular techniques and pools of antisera. The viral types identified were enteroviruses (poliovirus and coxsackievirus B) and reoviruses.
Viruses appear less easily removed than classical bacterial indicators. Reoviruses were removed less efficiently than enteroviruses.
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Aulicino, F.A., Mastrantonio, A., Orsini, P. et al. Enteric viruses in a wastewater treatment plant in Rome. Water Air Soil Pollut 91, 327–334 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00666267
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00666267