Seasonal virus removal by alternative onsite wastewater treatment systems.

Viral contamination of public waters is a leading health concern around the world, including in Minnesota where cold climate, abundant onsite systems on poor or thin soils, and abundant surface water resources present a significant risk of wastewater pathogens reaching sensitive water sources. Three alternative onsite treatment systems, a sand filter, peat filter and subsurface-flow constructed wetland (CW) at a field research site were evaluated for seasonal virus removal by seeding each with MS2 bacteriophage. The sand and peat filters and CW removed 2.