Contaminants of emerging concern reduction and microbial community characterization across a three-barrier advanced water treatment system.

This research investigated the removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and characterized the microbial community across an advanced water treatment (AWT) train consisting of Coagulation/Flocculation/Clarification/Granular Media Filtration (CFCGMF), Ozone-Biological Activated Carbon Filtration (O3/BAC), Granular Activated Carbon filtration, Ultraviolet Disinfection, and Cartridge Filtration (GAC/UV/CF). The AWT train successfully met the goals of CECs and bulk organics removal. The microbial community at each treatment step of the AWT train was characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform generated from DNA extracted from liquid and solid (treatment media) samples taken along the treatment train. Differences in the microbial community structure were observed. The dominant operational taxonomic units (OTU) decreased along the treatment train, but the treatment steps did impact the microbial community composition downstream of each unit process. These results provide insights into microbial ecology in advanced water treatment systems, which are influenced and shaped by each treatment step, the microbial community interactions, and their potential metabolic contribution to CECs degradation.

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances removal in multi-barrier advanced water purification system for indirect potable reuse.

The study evaluated the removal efficacy of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across various advanced water treatment (AWT) processes in a field-scale AWT train using secondary effluent samples from a full-scale water reclamation facility (WRF). Samples collected from April to October 2020 revealed PFCAs as the dominant PFAS compounds in the WRF secondary effluent, with PFPeA having the highest average concentration and PFSAs in notably lower amounts. Temporal fluctuations in total PFAS concentrations peaked in September 2020, which may reflect the seasonality in PFAS discharges related to applications like AFFFs and pesticides. In assessing AWT processes, coagulation-flocculation-clarification-filtration system showed no notable PFAS reduction, while ozonation resulted in elevated PFBS and PFBA concentrations. Biological activated carbon (BAC) filtration effectively removed long-chain PFAS like PFOS and PFHxS but saw increased concentrations of short-chain PFAS post-treatment. Granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration was the most effective treatment, reducing all PFSAs below the detection limits and significantly decreasing most PFCAs, though short-chain PFCAs persisted. UV treatment did not remove short-chain PFCAs such as PFBA, PFPeA, and PFHxA. The findings highlight the efficacy of AWT processes like GAC in PFAS reduction for potable reuse, but also underscore the challenge presented by short-chain PFAS, emphasizing the need for tailored treatment strategies. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Secondary effluents showed higher concentrations of PFCAs compared to PFSAs. Advanced water treatment effectively removes long-chain PFAS but not short-chain. Ozonation may contribute to formation of short-chain PFAS. BAC is less effective on short-chain PFAS, requiring further GAC treatment.

Pathogen reduction by ozone-biological activated carbon-based advanced water reclamation for reuse.

Ozone-biological activated carbon (ozone-BAC)-based technologies are emerging as an appealing option for potable reuse systems; however, uncertainty remains regarding the reduction of waterborne pathogens. Common log reduction requirements have been modeled after California Department of Drinking Water's 12-10-10 log reduction value (LRV) for enteric virus, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia, respectively. The objective of this research was to investigate appropriate LRVs of pathogens that can be achieved in ozone-BAC-based treatment systems and to assess the applicability of employing drinking water pathogen guidelines for potable reuse applications. A pilot scale ozone-BAC-based treatment train was operated at two water reclamation facilities in Reno, Nevada, USA. Virus, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and bacterial indicators were monitored across individual and combined treatment processes. Pathogen barriers investigated include conventional filtration, ozonation, and ultraviolet disinfection. Based on sampling and treatment validation strategies, the three pathogen barriers can provide minimum LRVs of 13-9-9.5 for virus, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. Secondary biological treatment can provide additional pathogen LRVs with site-specific sampling. The present study addresses regulatory uncertainties associated with ozone-BAC pathogen reduction. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Ozone-biological activated carbon-based advanced treatment can meet pathogen LRV requirements with a minimum of three pathogen barriers. Successfully applied drinking water pathogen reduction guidelines for potable reuse applications verified by operational criteria. Low presence of pathogens requires surrogates and indicator analyses and variety of monitoring techniques to verify pathogen log reduction.

Protozoa reduction through secondary wastewater treatment in two water reclamation facilities.

The State of Nevada, USA Administrative Code requires a 12-log enteric virus reduction/inactivation, 10-log Giardia cyst reduction, and 10-log Cryptosporidium oocyst reduction for Category A+ reclaimed water suitable for indirect potable reuse (IPR) based on raw wastewater to potable reuse water. Accurately demonstrating log10 reduction values (LRVs) through secondary biological treatment prior to an advanced water treatment train enables redundancy and resiliency for IPR projects while maintaining a high level of public confidence. LRVs for Cryptosporidium and Giardia resulting from secondary biological treatment are not fully established due to a wide range of performance variabilities resulting from different types of secondary biological treatment processes employed in water reclamation. A one-year investigation of two full-scale northern Nevada (e.g. ≤4 mgd; 1.5 × 107 L/day) water reclamation facilities (WRFs) was conducted to monitor Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts in untreated wastewater and secondary effluent. This study aimed at establishing secondary treatment LRVs, monitor WRF performance and attempted to correlate performance to protozoan reduction. California's IPR regulations, in which Nevada IPR regulations were modeled after, were based on a maximum concentration of 5-logs (cysts/L) of Giardia and 4-logs (oocysts/L) of Cryptosporidium. The recovery-corrected Giardia and Cryptosporidium concentrations measured in untreated influent (20 samples each at each WRF) were below 5-log cysts/L at the 99th percentile (maximum 4.4-log cysts/L) and 4-log oocysts/L (maximum 2.7 log oocysts/L), respectively. Both secondary treatment WRFs produced secondary effluent that is consistently better than federal and the State of Nevada requirements and perform within an operating envelop for other secondary facilities. Given the results, it appears that a minimum conservative estimate for LRVs for well-operated secondary activated sludge treatment plants (at the 5th percentile) of 0.5 LRV credit for Cryptosporidium and 2.0 LRV for Giardia is warranted. These minimum LRVs are consistent with a conservative review of the available literature.