Fate of coliphage in a wastewater treatment process

The fate of coliphage in a wastewater treatment plant in the central part of Japan was investigated from March to December 2001. A relative abundance of coliphage, 1000-10,000 PFU/ml determined with three different Escherichia coli strains, was detected in the influent. But, no remarkable seasonal change in the phage concentration in the influent was observed during the ten-month test period. Almost ten times higher coliphage concentration was detected by the F+ E. coli strain than by the other two F- strains. The RNA phage was more stable than the DNA phage against aerobic treatment using activated sludge. Most of the phages in the influent and primary settling tank were detected as suspended forms. Anaerobic-aerobic treatment enhanced adsorption of the phage by the solid particles. Almost no phage was detected in the effluent. Aerobic treatment using activated sludge and/or the addition of flocculants such as PAC was effective for the removal of coliphage, an index of enteric viral pollution.