title: Evaluation of three full-scale stormwater treatment systems with respect to water yield, pathogen removal efficacy and human health risk from faecal pathogens.
abstract: In this study, three full-scale, operational stormwater harvesting systems located in Melbourne, Australia were evaluated with respect to water yields; pathogen removal performance by analysis of native surrogate data (Escherichiacoli, somatic coliphages and Clostridium perfringens); and potential human health risk associated with exposures to faecal pathogens using Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA). The water yield assessment confirmed variation between design and measured yields. Faecal contamination of urban stormwater was site specific and variable. Different treatment removal performance was observed between each of the microbial surrogates and varied between event and baseline conditions, with negligible removal of viruses during event conditions. Open storages that provide a habitat for waterfowl may lead to elevated risk due to the potential for zoonotic transmission. Nevertheless, in the Australian urban setting studied, the potential for human faecal contamination of the separated stormwater system was a critical driver of risk. If the integrity of the sewerage system can be ensured, then predicted health risks are dramatically reduced.
authors.affiliation: Water & Health Pty Ltd, P.O. Box 648, Salamander Bay 2317, Australia. Electronic address: s.petterson@waterandhealth.com.au.
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Petterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning, Australia.
authors.forename: V Grace
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: CREH, UK.
authors.forename: Cheryl M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: City West Water, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaucner
authors.affiliation: Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roser
authors.affiliation: Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of NSW, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Alberta T6G 2G7, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ashbolt
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003090:Coliphages; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005243:Feces; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Pathogen removal; QMRA; Treatment; Urban stormwater; Yield