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Dynamic performance of biosand filters
Author(s) -
Lynn Thomas J.,
Wanjugi Pauline,
Harwood Valerie J.,
Ergas Sarina J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.5942/jawwa.2013.105.0116
Subject(s) - turbidity , environmental science , pulp and paper industry , total organic carbon , absorbance , biofilm , biomass (ecology) , water treatment , heterotroph , water quality , environmental engineering , chemistry , environmental chemistry , ecology , biology , bacteria , chromatography , genetics , engineering
Biosand filters (BSFs) are point‐of‐use water treatment systems that can provide safe and affordable potable water to households in developing countries. However, little information is available on the dynamic performance of BSFs or for selecting local materials to use as filter media. In this study, water quality dynamics, biofilm characteristics, and hydraulic performance were investigated in two full‐scale BSFs. During four months of operation with sewage‐contaminated surface water, average log 10 removals of 1.7, 1.2, and 0.6 were observed for Escherichia coli , total coliforms, and total heterotrophs, respectively. Average removal efficiencies for turbidity, ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm, and total organic carbon were 86, 36, and 27%, respectively. Dynamic analysis showed that significant removal of indicator organisms and total organic carbon occurred during the pause period between charging the BSFs. Biofilm characterization revealed that more particle‐associated biomass exists within the BSF column compared with the schmutzdecke layer.