MS2 coliphage and E. coli UVB inactivation rates in optically clear water: dose, dose rate and temperature dependence.

Natural ultraviolet irradiance disinfection is known to play a significant role in both natural wastewater treatment systems and drinking water disinfection processes, while the influence of ultraviolet B (UVB) delivering method on sunlight disinfection outcome is still unclear. This study aims to determine the effects of environmentally relevant temperatures, UVB doses (J m) and dose rates (W m) on the inactivation and log reduction values (LRVs) of the F-RNA coliphage MS2 and Escherichia coli in optically clear water. E.

Comparison of the treatment performance of a high rate algal pond and a facultative waste stabilisation pond operating in rural South Australia.

South Australian community wastewater management schemes (CWMS) treat wastewater using waste stabilisation ponds before disposal or reuse. This study compared the performance of a facultative pond, 6,300 m, 27.5 d theoretical hydraulic retention time (THRT), with a high rate algal pond (HRAP) operated at depths of 0.

Structure of nitrifying biofilms in a high-rate trickling filter designed for potable water pre-treatment.

This study examined the composition and structure of nitrifying biofilms sampled from a high-rate nitrifying trickling filter which was designed to pre-treat raw surface water for potable supply. The filter was operated under a range of feed water ammonia and organic carbon concentrations that mimicked the raw water quality of poorly protected catchments. The biofilm structure was examined using a combination of fluorescence in situ hybridisation and scanning electron microscopy.

The impact of organic carbon on the performance of a high rate nitrifying trickling filter designed to pre-treat potable water.

The application of nitrifying trickling filters (NTFs) to potable water treatment is less well understood than their application to wastewater treatment, particularly regarding the effect of low ammonia substrate concentrations and organic carbon loading on filter performance. A large pilot-scale NTF was operated under conditions that simulated the raw water quality of poorly protected catchments typically found in SE Asia, with the objective of reducing the ammonia driven chlorine demand during disinfection. The efficacy of a high rate NTF to remove low concentrations of ammonia (0.

Safe drinking water: critical components of effective inter-agency relationships.

The paper supports the development of evidence-based emergency management frameworks of cooperation between agencies in the area of drinking water and public health, as part of developing the overall risk management culture within water utilities. We employed a qualitative research design to understand critical gaps in inter-agency relations that aggravated past drinking water and health incidents and from these identified determinants of effective relationships. We identified six critical institutional relationship components that were deficient in past incidents, namely proactivity, communication, training, sharing expertise, trust and regulation.

Application of high rate nitrifying trickling filters for potable water treatment.

The interference of ammonia with chlorination is a prevalent problem encountered by water treatment plants located throughout South East Asia. The efficacy of high rate, plastic-packed trickling filters as a pre-treatment process to remove low concentrations of ammonia from polluted surface water was investigated. This paper presents the findings from a series of pilot experiments, which were designed to investigate the effect of specific conditions-namely low ammonia feed concentrations (0.