Removal of Encephalitozoon intestinalis, calicivirus, and coliphages by conventional drinking water treatment
Charles P Gerba1, Kelley R Riley, Nena Nwachuku
1Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA. gerba@ag.arizona.edu
Abstract:
The removal of the Microsporidia, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, feline calicivirus and coliphages MS-2, PRD-1, and Fr were evaluated during conventional drinking water treatment in a pilot plant. The treatment consisted of coagulation, sedimentation, and mixed media filtration. Fr coliphage was removed the most (3.21 log), followed by feline calicivirus (3.05 log), E. coli (2.67 log), E. intestinalis (2.47 log), MS-2 (2.51 log). and PRD-1 (1.85 log). With the exception of PRD-1 the greatest removal of the viruses occurred during the flocculation step of the water treatment process.
