Fate of E. coli across mechanical dewatering processes

Five UK sludge treatment plants have been monitored for Escherichia coli (E.coli) variation after mechanical belt press and centrifuge dewatering processes. A complementary laboratory trial was also completed to examine the effects of varying centrifugal force on raw sludge E.coli content. An E.coli balance between the numbers contained in the flows entering and exiting four full scale centrifuge dewatering systems indicated a minimum 63 % increase in E.coli numbers between the input feed and sludge cake for a digested sludge input to the centrifuge. For two of the centrifuge sites this increase was statistically significant and corresponded to an increase in E.coli concentration ranging up to 1.4 Log after centrifugation. However, E.coli variation was found to be dependent on the type of sludge, as centrifuge dewatering of raw sludge at full scale resulted in a 40 % decrease in E.coli numbers. The complementary laboratory centrifuge work confirmed that E.coli numbers decreased in raw sludge after centrifugation. E.coli numbers were not observed to increase in digested sludge which had been dewatered using a belt press. A decrease of 44 % was observed.