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Removal of SARS‐CoV‐2 viral markers through a water reclamation facility
Author(s) -
Gharoon Niloufar,
Dewan Aimee,
Li Lin,
Haak Laura,
Mazurowski Lauren,
Guarin Tatiana,
Pagilla Krishna
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.1002/wer.1641
Subject(s) - effluent , wastewater , sewage treatment , kjeldahl method , covid-19 , chemistry , biology , veterinary medicine , environmental science , environmental engineering , medicine , nitrogen , disease , organic chemistry , infectious disease (medical specialty)
There have been multiple reports of COVID‐19 virus, SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA presence in influent wastewater of water reclamation facilities (WRFs) across the world. In this study, the removal of SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA was investigated in a WRF by collecting samples from various stages relayed to hydraulic retention time (HRT) and analyzed for viral RNA (N1 and N2) gene markers and wastewater characteristics. SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA was detected in 28 out of 28 influent wastewater and primary effluent samples. Secondary effluent showed 4 out of 9 positive samples, and all tertiary and final effluent samples were below the detection limit for the viral markers. The reduction was significant ( p value < 0.005, one‐way analysis of variance [ANOVA] test) in secondary treatment, ranging from 1.4 to 2.0 log 10 removal. Adjusted N1 viral marker had a positive correlation with total suspended solids, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and ammonia concentrations (Spearman's ρ = 0.61, 0.67, and 0.53, respectively, p value < 0.05), while demonstrating a strongly negative correlation with HRT (Spearman's ρ = −0.58, p value < 0.01). Practitioner points Viral RNA was present in all samples taken from influent and primary effluent of a WRF. SARS‐CoV‐2 gene marker was detected in secondary effluent in 4 out of 9 samples. Tertiary and final effluent samples tested nondetect for SARS‐CoV‐2 gene markers. Up to 0.5 and 2.0 log 10 virus removal values were achieved by primary and secondary treatment, respectively.