Removal of microorganisms in different stages of wastewater treatment for Mexico City

In this study the removal of a diversity of microorganisms during different stages of treatment was evaluated. The process scheme consisted of Advanced Primary Treatment (APT), sand filtration, and chlorine disinfection. During the first 2 stages, fecal coliforms were reduced from 1.24×10⁹ to 1.2×10⁸ MPN/100 mL and helminth ova were reduced to less than 1 ova/L. Nevertheless, to obtain an effluent water quality that meets the microbiological standards recommended by the World Health Organization (1989) and the Mexican norm for water destined for agricultural reuse it was necessary to disinfect the effluent with a chlorine dose of 12 mg/L for a 3 hour contact time. Under these conditions, fecal coliforms were reduced from 1.2×10⁹ to 5.8×10¹ MPN/100 mL, Salmonella spp. from 5.0×10⁸ MPN/100 mL to below the detection limit, Pseudomonas aeruginosa from 2.0×10⁵ MPN/100 mL to below the detection limit, and protozoan cysts from 1052 to 31 cysts/L. Regrowth of bacteria was never observed during the 48 hours period following disinfection. The active chlorine was primarily in the form of chloramines thus reducing the formation of other potentially carcinogenic disinfection byproducts.