Examination of Reactivation and Regrowth of Fecal Coliforms in Centrifuge Dewatered, Anaerobically Digested Sludges

The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) and its research partners initially undertook this study in response to reports of increases of fecal coliform counts following anaerobic digestion and dewatering at a few wastewater treatment facilities. A number of utilities (such as our utility research partner in this study) are also in the process of spending millions of dollars to upgrade or build new digestion and dewatering facilities to produce biosolids using the types of processes studied here. These processes include both mesophilic and thermophilic digestion for stabilization and high-solids centrifugation for dewatering. This research, and ongoing work to further address this issue, demonstrates the leadership of the nation's wastewater community as supported by WERF in continuing to ensure scientifically sound and environmentally safe biosolids management practices.

The study identifies some potential control methods and mitigation strategies that utilities could use to reduce coliform levels. Developing specific information on mechanisms for reactivation and regrowth, as well as control methods and operational changes, is the focus of further research which is already underway.

This title belongs to Water Research Foundation Report Series

ISBN: 9781843397366 (eBook)