title: Quantitative bacteriological assessment of aerobic wastewater treatment quality and plant performance.
abstract: The application of a novel method for measuring changes in defined bacterial populations during aerobic wastewater treatment was investigated. Changes in bacterial communities and total active cells can be used as surrogates for identifying potential WWTP treatment train efficiency and operational performance malfunctions. In this study, the quantities of active heterotrophic aerobic bacteria (HAB) in weekly wastewater samples collected from twelve locations across a WWTP were determined colorimetrically using biological activity reaction tests (BART). Samples were collected for 2 months from primary, secondary and tertiary unit processes. The results show a mean HAB population decrease of 99.8% from primary influent to tertiary effluent, with the largest reductions occurring in the secondary aerobic lagoons. The results were reproducible and robust supporting the applied BART analytical method as an indicator not only of overall efficacy of the WWTP processes but also of potential WWTP process malfunctions.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Systems Engineering, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
authors.forename: Behrooz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Razban
authors.forename: Kristina Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: D Roy
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Cullimore
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cullimore
authors.forename: Dena W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: McMartin
mesh_terms: D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000379:methods*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D012722:Sewage; D014873:Water Pollutants; D010100:Oxygen; D008751:Methylene Blue