Removal of cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, heterotrophic bacteria and endotoxins at an operating surface water treatment plant

Water Sci Technol. 2006;54(3):23-8. doi: 10.2166/wst.2006.443.

Abstract

The removal of cyanobacteria, hepatotoxins produced by them (microcystins), phytoplankton, heterotrophic bacteria and endotoxins were monitored at a surface water treatment plant with coagulation, clarification, sand filtration, ozonation, slow sand filtration and chlorination as the treatment process. Coagulation-sand filtration reduced microcystins by 1.2-2.4, and endotoxins by 0.72-2.01 log10 units. Ozonation effectively removed the residual microcystins. The treatment process reduced phytoplankton biomass by 2.2-4.6 and heterotrophic bacteria by 2.0-5.0 log10 units. In treated water, the concentration of microcystins never exceeded the WHO guide value (1 microg/L), but picoplankton and monad cells were often detected in high numbers. The heterotrophic bacterial isolates from the treated waters belonged to genera Sphingomonas, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Herbaspirillum and Bosea.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Cyanobacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Endotoxins / isolation & purification*
  • Species Specificity
  • Water Microbiology*
  • Water Supply*

Substances

  • Endotoxins