DROPLET

The effect of the wastewater treatment process, in particular UV treatment, on pathogenic virus removal

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Project Metadata ElementDetails
  Project Title The effect of the wastewater treatment process, in particular UV treatment, on pathogenic virus removal
Research Area Water
Project Acronym
  Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner Eoghan Clifford
  Lead Institution or Organisation National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG)
 Lead Country Ireland
 Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) 53.27905, -9.05794
  Lead Funding Entity Environmental Protection Agency
  Approximate Project Start Date 01/03/2012
  Approximate Project Finishing Date 01/03/2014
  Project Website (if any)
  Links to other Web-based resources
 Project Keywords Wastewater treatment; Human Pathogenic Viruses; Treatment technologies; Surface waters
  Project Abstract Human pathogenic viruses (HPVs) in water supplies can cause infections such as gastroenteritis, hepatitis and meningitis. Other negative effects associated with relatively high levels of pathogenic viruses in surface waters and these include: (i) deterioration of bathing water quality and the associated human health and tourism consequences; (ii) poor quality of abstracted water from surface waters for drinking purposes; and (iii) threats to the marine shellfish industry including consequences for human health and the industry. This project will test at both laboratory and pilot scale a number of methods (membrane and UV) for disinfection of secondary wastewaters by examining removal of the following parameters (amongst others): NoV GI and GII, FRNA bacteriophage, total coliforms and E.coli;Enterococcus. Technologies such as membrane filters and UV systems will be trialled at sites including the EPA/NUI Galway Water Research Facility (WRF). Identification and quantification of norovirus and FRNA bacteriophage will be determined by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). FRNA bacteriophage will also be quantified by an agar plaque assay to give a direct comparison of virus reduction as judged by a viability assay and by real time PCR. FRNA bacteriophage will be compared as a surrogate for norovirus and other HPVs.