The Removal of Excreted Bacteria and Viruses in Deep Waste Stabilization Ponds in Northeast Brazil

The removal of excreted bacteria (faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci, Clostridium perfringens, total and sorbitol-fermenting bifidobacteria, salmonellae and thermophilic campylobacters) and viruses (enterovirus and rotavirus) in a series of deep anaerobic, facultative and maturation ponds (depth range: 2.8 - 3.4 m), with an overall retention time of 21 days and a mean mid-depth temperature of 27°C, was studied. Thermophilic campylobacters, bifidobacteria and salmonellae were not detected after 11, 16 and 21 days' retention respectively. Faecal coliforms, faecal streptcocci and Cl. perfringens were reduced by 4, 4 and 2 orders of magnitude respectively, and enteroviruses and rotaviruses both by 3 orders. The results indicate that pathogen removal in deep ponds is similar to that in ponds of normal depth.