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Development of Disinfection‐Resistant Bacteria During Wastewater Treatment
Author(s) -
Scully Frank E.,
Hogg Paula A.,
Kennedy George,
Lewicki Chuck,
Rule Anna M.,
Soffriti Jane G.
Publication year - 1999
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 - 10.2175/106143098x121905
Subject(s) - disinfectant , fecal coliform , effluent , chlorine , wastewater , coliform bacteria , sewage treatment , pulp and paper industry , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , feces , environmental science , environmental engineering , chemistry , environmental chemistry , waste management , biology , water quality , ecology , genetics , organic chemistry , engineering
The Williamsburg, Virginia, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) has periodically experienced erratic disinfection and persistence of fecal coliform bacteria in the presence of apparently adequate levels of disinfectant in the effluent. Several reasons for disinfection problems were previously investigated. This paper describes the results of a study of two factors that could affect disinfection in this plant: (1) the potential for the development of disinfection‐resistant fecal coliforms in the operation of this specific WWTP and (2) the nature of the wastewater matrix that this particular WWTP handles that could interfere with chlorine disinfection. The study suggested that the WWTP oxidation towers supported growth or recovery of fecal coliform bacteria. This bacterial subpopulation seemed to have increased resistance to routine chlorine disinfection. Inactivation rate constants calculated for periods between 15 and 45 minutes after chlorine addition were significantly lower for fecal coliforms originating from oxidation towers than for fecal coliforms from other sources. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of such conditions created by a treatment process. The study of the plant‐specific matrix determined no statistically significant effects on disinfection.