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Related Concept Videos

Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water01:30

Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water

Biological wastewater treatment relies on the metabolic activity of microorganisms to remove pollutants from sewage. In modern treatment systems, this process is organized into sequential stages that progressively reduce solid material, dissolved organic matter, and microbial contamination. Each stage plays a distinct role in improving water quality and preparing the effluent for safe discharge or reuse.Primary and Secondary TreatmentPrimary treatment is a physical process that removes large...
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Tracking SARS-CoV-2 RNA through the Wastewater Treatment Process.

Hala Abu Ali1, Karin Yaniv2, Edo Bar-Zeev1

  • 1Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Beer Sheva 8499000, Israel.

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Wastewater treatment reduces SARS-CoV-2 RNA, but significant amounts remain after primary and secondary stages. Tertiary treatment and chlorination are crucial for further reducing virus spread.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental science
  • Virology
  • Public health

Background:

  • Municipal sewage contains SARS-CoV-2 RNA from COVID-19 patients.
  • Effective wastewater treatment is vital to prevent environmental virus dissemination.
  • The impact of different treatment stages on viral RNA reduction remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in raw sewage and during activated sludge treatment stages.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of wastewater treatment processes in reducing viral RNA.
  • To assess the role of tertiary treatment and chlorination in virus inactivation.

Main Methods:

  • Samples collected from two Israeli wastewater treatment plants during the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak.
  • Ultrafiltration used for sample concentration (2-43 fold) to lower detection limits.
  • Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA via real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Main Results:

  • Primary and secondary treatment steps achieved approximately 1-log RNA removal on average.
  • >100 copies of SARS-CoV-2 RNA/mL were detected in secondary effluents.
  • SARS-CoV-2 RNA was rarely detected after chlorination, suggesting treatment efficacy, potentially limited by chlorine dosage.

Conclusions:

  • Conventional wastewater treatment partially reduces SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
  • Tertiary treatment and chlorination are important for minimizing environmental virus release.
  • Further research is needed to optimize treatment for complete viral inactivation.