BEHAVIOR OF PEPPER MILD MOTTLE VIRUS IN AN ADVANCED DRINKING WATER TREATMENT PROCESS AND WASTE STREAM RECYCLING SYSTEM

Abstract

 In this study, behaviors of pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), rotavirus A (RVA), and norovirus GII in an advanced water treatment process and liquid waste treatment system were investigated by analyzing the water samples collected at 11 points in a full-scale drinking water treatment plant. PMMoV and RVA were detected in the raw water at the concentrations of 6.1 and 3.7 log₁₀ copies/L, respectively. PMMoV was detected in the water samples after the coagulation-sedimentation process at the concentration of 3.9 log₁₀ copies/L, while RVA was not. PMMoV was detected in the samples after the ozonation and activated carbon treatment processes at the concentrations of 3.4 and 3.2 log₁₀ copies/L, respectively, and was detected only in 11% of samples after the rapid sand filtration. In the liquid waste treatment system, PMMoV was detected in the supernatant from sludge thickener and dewatering liquid wastes from sludge filter press at the concentrations of 4.2 and 4.3 log₁₀ copies/L, respectively. Based on the flows of drinking water treatment process and waste streams, the load of PMMoV recycled back into the raw water reservoir was estimated to be 0.06% of that contained in the raw water. These results suggested that most of PMMoV removed through the coagulation-sedimentation process were disposed from the plant with dewatered cake.