Project #4880

Evaluating Fate of Coliphages in WRRFs and Potential Costs to Reduce Coliphages in WRRF Effluents

$370,745
Completed
Principal Investigator
Melanie
Mann
Research Manager
Ms. Lola Olabode
Contractor
Hazen and Sawyer
Treatment
Microbes & Pathogens
Utility Management

Abstract

This project evaluated the fate and treatability of bacterial indicators (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus), viral indicators (male-specific coliphages and somatic coliphages), and enteric viruses in wastewater in relation to potential viral indicator updates to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Recreational Water Quality Criteria (RWQC). The research examines the fate and persistence of coliphages and other indicator organisms at water resource recovery facilities utilizing different treatment configurations, evaluates the treatability of such organisms with common wastewater disinfectants, and estimates the potential economic impacts of coliphage-based RWQC on water resource recovery facilities. Published in 2019.

This project also developed Frequently Asked Questions, as well as a manuscript publshed in Water Environment Research, which are posted below under Project Papers.

Originally funded as WERF project U3R15

Resources