Influence of PPCPs on the performance of intermittently operated slow sand filters for household water purification

Caroline M E Pompei; Lena Ciric; Melisa Canales; Kersti Karu; Eny M Vieira; Luiza C Campos

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.091

Influence of PPCPs on the performance of intermittently operated slow sand filters for household water purification

Sci Total Environ. 2017 Mar 1:581-582:174-185. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.091. Epub 2016 Dec 29.

Authors

Caroline M E Pompei¹, Lena Ciric², Melisa Canales², Kersti Karu³, Eny M Vieira⁴, Luiza C Campos⁵

Affiliations

¹ Water Resources and Applied Ecology Center, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, Caixa Postal 292, São Carlos, SP CEP 13560-970, Brazil.
² Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
³ Department of Chemistry, University College London (UCL), London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
⁴ Department of Chemistry and Molecular Physics, São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São Carlense 400, Caixa Postal 780, São Carlos, SP CEP 13560-970, Brazil.
⁵ Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom. Electronic address: l.campos@ucl.ac.uk.

PMID: 28041695
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.091

Abstract

Removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from drinking water is usually enhanced by advanced oxidation which is not affordable in low income countries. Slow sand filtration has been found to be capable of removing anti-inflammatory compounds, and its low maintenance costs and easy operation make it an attractive technology for treating drinking water in many parts of the world. In addition, slow sand filters can be used at both large and household scales. The biofilm (i.e. schmutzdecke) developed on the top of the sand and within the upper layers of the sand is acknowledged to be responsible for the water purification. However, it is possible that the PPCPs may affect the schmutzdecke development and microbial community within the filters, and consequently the performance of the filter. This study investigated two household slow sand filters (for water purification) operated intermittently with and without contamination by six PPCPs. Eleven parameters were monitored in the affluent and effluent water, including bacterial species present and schmutzdecke biomass development. Results demonstrated that the household slow sand filter performance was not affected by the 2μgL^-1 of PPCPs in the water. There was no significant difference between filters for total coliforms and E. coli removal, but there was considerable difference between sampling times. Biomass considerably increased with the number of filtrations in both filters and there was no significant difference between filter biomass. However, it was found that more bacterial species were present in the period with no contamination than during the contamination period. Bacillus anthracis and Exiguobacterium sp. showed to be resistant to the effects of the PPCPs. These suggest there are effects of PPCPs on bacterial species within the filter. However, the effect of the PPCPs on biomass was not conclusive in this study and needs to be further investigated.

Keywords: Bacteria sequencing; Biofilm; Biomass; Pharmaceuticals and personal care compounds; Slow sand filters.

MeSH terms

Bacteria
Biofilms
Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals / isolation & purification*
Cosmetics / isolation & purification*
Escherichia coli
Filtration*
Silicon Dioxide*
Water Purification*

Substances

Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals
Cosmetics
Silicon Dioxide