Removal of Fecal Indicators, Pathogenic Bacteria, Adenovirus, Cryptosporidium and Giardia (oo)cysts in Waste Stabilization Ponds in Northern and Eastern Australia

Maxim Sheludchenko, Anna Padovan, Mohammad Katouli and Helen Stratton
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Maxim Sheludchenko: Smart Water Research Centre, Building G51, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland 4222, Australia
Anna Padovan: Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory 0909, Australia
Mohammad Katouli: Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland 4558, Australia
Helen Stratton: Smart Water Research Centre, Building G51, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland 4222, Australia

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: Maturation ponds are used in rural and regional areas in Australia to remove the microbial loads of sewage wastewater, however, they have not been studied intensively until present. Using a combination of culture-based methods and quantitative real-time PCR, we assessed microbial removal rates in maturation ponds at four waste stabilization ponds (WSP) with ( n = 1) and without ( n = 3) baffles in rural and remote communities in Australia. Concentrations of total coliforms, E. coli , enterococci, Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., F+ RNA coliphage, adenovirus, Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia (oo) cysts in maturation ponds were measured at the inlet and outlet. Only the baffled pond demonstrated a significant removal of most of the pathogens tested and therefore was subjected to further study by analyzing E. coli and enterococci concentrations at six points along the baffles over five sampling rounds. Using culture-based methods, we found a decrease in the number of E. coli and enterococci from the initial values of 100,000 CFU per 100 mL in the inlet samples to approximately 1000 CFU per 100 mL in the outlet samples for both bacterial groups. Giardia cysts removal was relatively higher than fecal indicators reduction possibly due to sedimentation.

Keywords: waste stabilization pond (WSP); maturation pond; E. coli; enterococci; Campylobacter jejuni; Salmonella enterica; Giardia cysts (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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