There has been a resurgence of interest, technological advancement, and implementation of biologically active slow sand filtration technologies for small-scale potable water treatment in North America. Modelling the fate and transport of pathogenic microorganisms is vital to assess technological safety and for licensing, permitting and regulatory validation. The efficacy of a modified slow sand (MSS) filter treatment technology to produce drinking water and remove Cryptosporidium oocyst-sized particles was tested using a rural raw water source seeded with 4–4.9 μm (mean 4.5 μm) microsphere surrogates. The turbidity, temperature, pH and total organic carbon content of raw water were 1.46 ± 0.010 nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU), 3.40 ± 0.30 °C, 8.05 ± 0.16 and 22.7 ± 0.64 mg/L, respectively, and those of the MSS filter effluent with biologically active carbon filter influent were 0.47 ± 0.0 NTU, 3.36 ± 0.42 °C, 7.90 ± 0.27 and 22.6 ± 0.65 mg/L. The decimal elimination capacity of the MSS and biologically active carbon filters for the microspheres were at least 2 and 1 log at 95% confidence, respectively. These systems are capable of removing oocyst-sized particles under extreme conditions, providing safe, effective and economical treatment solutions for small-scale municipal drinking water.
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Research Article|
May 01 2013
Fluorescent microspheres as surrogates to assess oocyst removal efficacy from a modified slow sand biofiltration water treatment system
Ann M. Gottinger
;
Ann M. Gottinger
1Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada
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Supriya V. Bhat
;
Supriya V. Bhat
2Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada
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Dena W. McMartin
;
Dena W. McMartin
1Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada
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Tanya E. S. Dahms
2Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada
E-mail: tanya.dahms@uregina.ca
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Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2013) 62 (3): 129–137.
Article history
Received:
September 18 2012
Accepted:
March 08 2013
Citation
Ann M. Gottinger, Supriya V. Bhat, Dena W. McMartin, Tanya E. S. Dahms; Fluorescent microspheres as surrogates to assess oocyst removal efficacy from a modified slow sand biofiltration water treatment system. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 May 2013; 62 (3): 129–137. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2013.104
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