Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due: Virus Removal During Secondary Wastewater Treatment

Bacteria often get a bad rap, although justified in the case of something like Legionella or E. coli O157:H7. But they're not all bad! In fact, bacteria are the workhorses of wastewater treatment, specifically secondary biological treatment with "activated sludge". Untreated wastewater is loaded with organic matter and nutrients that, if not removed, would result in severe ecological consequences upon environmental discharge. To avoid these issues, engineers design activated sludge processes--think of a chunky soup loaded with bacteria--to remove the organics and nutrients within the treatment plant. But what happens to other microorganisms, specifically viruses, as they encounter these bacterial 'chunks'?

This episode takes a "deep dive" into virus removal in activated sludge processes, specifically in the context of potable reuse. Potable ...