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Guarin TC, Li L, Haak L, Teel L, Pagilla KR. Contaminants of emerging concern reduction and microbial community characterization across a three-barrier advanced water treatment system. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:169637. [PMID: 38157893 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
This research investigated the removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and characterized the microbial community across an advanced water treatment (AWT) train consisting of Coagulation/Flocculation/Clarification/Granular Media Filtration (CFCGMF), Ozone-Biological Activated Carbon Filtration (O3/BAC), Granular Activated Carbon filtration, Ultraviolet Disinfection, and Cartridge Filtration (GAC/UV/CF). The AWT train successfully met the goals of CECs and bulk organics removal. The microbial community at each treatment step of the AWT train was characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform generated from DNA extracted from liquid and solid (treatment media) samples taken along the treatment train. Differences in the microbial community structure were observed. The dominant operational taxonomic units (OTU) decreased along the treatment train, but the treatment steps did impact the microbial community composition downstream of each unit process. These results provide insights into microbial ecology in advanced water treatment systems, which are influenced and shaped by each treatment step, the microbial community interactions, and their potential metabolic contribution to CECs degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana C Guarin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA; ε-BiO: UNAB's Circular Bioeconomy Research Center, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Laura Haak
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Lydia Teel
- Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Krishna R Pagilla
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA.
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Li L, Haak L, Guarin TC, Teel L, Sundaram V, Pagilla KR. Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances removal in multi-barrier advanced water purification system for indirect potable reuse. Water Environ Res 2024; 96:e10990. [PMID: 38291828 DOI: 10.1002/wer.10990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The study evaluated the removal efficacy of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across various advanced water treatment (AWT) processes in a field-scale AWT train using secondary effluent samples from a full-scale water reclamation facility (WRF). Samples collected from April to October 2020 revealed PFCAs as the dominant PFAS compounds in the WRF secondary effluent, with PFPeA having the highest average concentration and PFSAs in notably lower amounts. Temporal fluctuations in total PFAS concentrations peaked in September 2020, which may reflect the seasonality in PFAS discharges related to applications like AFFFs and pesticides. In assessing AWT processes, coagulation-flocculation-clarification-filtration system showed no notable PFAS reduction, while ozonation resulted in elevated PFBS and PFBA concentrations. Biological activated carbon (BAC) filtration effectively removed long-chain PFAS like PFOS and PFHxS but saw increased concentrations of short-chain PFAS post-treatment. Granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration was the most effective treatment, reducing all PFSAs below the detection limits and significantly decreasing most PFCAs, though short-chain PFCAs persisted. UV treatment did not remove short-chain PFCAs such as PFBA, PFPeA, and PFHxA. The findings highlight the efficacy of AWT processes like GAC in PFAS reduction for potable reuse, but also underscore the challenge presented by short-chain PFAS, emphasizing the need for tailored treatment strategies. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Secondary effluents showed higher concentrations of PFCAs compared to PFSAs. Advanced water treatment effectively removes long-chain PFAS but not short-chain. Ozonation may contribute to formation of short-chain PFAS. BAC is less effective on short-chain PFAS, requiring further GAC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Laura Haak
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Tatiana C Guarin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
- UNAB's Circular Bioeconomy Research Center, Autonomous University of Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Lydia Teel
- Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | | | - Krishna R Pagilla
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
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Li L, Mazurowski L, Dewan A, Carine M, Haak L, Guarin TC, Dastjerdi NG, Gerrity D, Mentzer C, Pagilla KR. Longitudinal monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater using viral genetic markers and the estimation of unconfirmed COVID-19 cases. Sci Total Environ 2022; 817:152958. [PMID: 35016937 PMCID: PMC8743272 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.152958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
In this study, wastewater-based surveillance was carried out to establish the correlation between SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA concentrations in wastewater and the incidence of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from clinical testing. The influent wastewater of three major water reclamation facilities (WRFs) in Northern Nevada, serving a population of 390,750, was monitored for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA gene markers, N1 and N2, from June 2020 through September 2021. A total of 614 samples were collected and analyzed. The SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in wastewater were observed to peak twice during the study period. A moderate correlation trend between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence data from clinical testing and SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA concentrations in wastewater was observed (Spearman r = 0.533). This correlation improved when using weekly average SARS-CoV-2 marker concentrations of wastewater and clinical case data (Spearman r = 0.790), presumably by mitigating the inherent variability of the environmental dataset and the effects of clinical testing artifacts (e.g., reporting lags). The research also demonstrated the value of wastewater-based surveillance as an early warning signal for early detection of trends in COVID-19 incidence. This was accomplished by identifying that the reported clinical cases had a stronger correlation to SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring data when they were estimated to lag 7-days behind the wastewater data. The results aided local decision makers in developing strategies to manage COVID-19 in the region and provide a framework for how wastewater-based surveillance can be applied across localities to enhance the public health monitoring of the ongoing pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Lauren Mazurowski
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Aimee Dewan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Madeline Carine
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Laura Haak
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Tatiana C Guarin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | | | - Daniel Gerrity
- Southern Nevada Water Authority, P.O. Box 99954, Las Vegas, NV 89193, USA
| | - Casey Mentzer
- Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility, Sparks, NV 89502, USA
| | - Krishna R Pagilla
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA.
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Guarin TC, Li L, Pagilla KR. Microbial community characterization in advanced water reclamation for potable reuse. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:2763-2773. [PMID: 35294588 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-11873-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the microbial community structure and composition across two treatment steps used in advanced water reclamation for potable reuse applications, namely Coagulation/Flocculation/Clarification/Granular Media Filtration (CFCGMF) and Ozone-Biological Activated Carbon filtration (O3/BAC). The study examined the richness, variations, and similarities of the microorganisms involved at each treatment step to better understand the role of ecology and the dynamics on unit process performance and the microbial community developed within it. The bacterial microbiomes at each treatment step were independently characterized using 16S metagenomic sequencing. Combining both treatment steps, a total of 3801 species were detected. From the total species detected, 38% and 98% were identified at CFCGMF and O3/BAC, respectively. The most abundant phyla were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes in both treatment steps. The identified species were classified based on their preferences to free-living style (59%) vs attached-living style (22%) showing a relatively low richness in the BAC media, but higher diversities. At the taxonomic class level, Betaproteobacteria was the predominant in both system processes. Additionally, a list of eight genera were identified as potential bacterial pathogens present in both process effluents. They are Aeromonas, Clostridium, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Flavobacterium, Legionella, Mycobacterium, and Pseudomonas. CFCGMF effluent yielded less pathogenic bacteria than both the ozone and BAC filter effluent from the O3/BAC process unit; their relative abundance accounted for about 2% and 8% for CFCGMF and O3/BAC, respectively. Detailed studies to characterize the microbial communities are crucial in interpreting the mechanisms and synergies between processes performance and microorganisms by identifying the needs and best practices to ensure public health protection. Key points • Microbial communities of two treatment processes are characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing. • Organisms that can tolerate ozone and form biofilms define microbial community in subsequent biofilters. • In relatively low abundances, potential pathogenic bacteria are detected in the treated water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana C Guarin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV, 89557-0258, USA
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV, 89557-0258, USA
| | - Krishna R Pagilla
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV, 89557-0258, USA.
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Guarin TC, Pagilla KR. Microbial community in biofilters for water reuse applications: A critical review. Sci Total Environ 2021; 773:145655. [PMID: 33940748 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The combination of ozonation (O3) and biofiltration processes has become practical and desirable in advanced water reclamation for water reuse applications. However, the role of microbial community and its characteristics (source, abundance, composition, viability, structure) on treatment performance has not received the same attention in water reclamation biofilters as in other applications, such as in drinking water biofilters. Microbial community characterization of biofilters used in water reuse applications will add evidence to better understand the potential microorganisms, consequent risks, and mechanisms that will populate drinking water sources and ultimately influence public health and the environment. This critical review provides insights into O3-biofiltration as a treatment barrier with a focus on development, structure, and composition of the microbial community characteristics involved in the process. The effect of microorganism seeding by the influent before and after the biofilter and ozone oxidation effects are explored to capture the microbial ecology interactions and environmental factors affecting the media ecosystem. The findings of reviewed studies concurred in identifying Proteobacteria as the most dominant phylum. However, Proteobacteria and other phyla relative abundance differ substantially depending upon environmental factors (e.g., pH, temperature, nutrients availability, among others) gradients. In general, we found significant gaps to relate and explain the biodegradation performance and metabolic processes within the biofilter, and hence deserve future attention. We highlighted and identified key challenges and future research ideas to assure O3-biofiltration reliability as a promising barrier in advanced water treatment applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana C Guarin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557-0258, USA
| | - Krishna R Pagilla
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557-0258, USA.
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