Removal of adenovirus, calicivirus, and bacteriophages by conventional drinking water treatment

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the removal of adenovirus, feline calicivirus (FCV), and bacteriophages MS-2, fr, PRD-1, and Φ X-174 during conventional drinking water treatment using ferric chloride as a coagulant. Adenovirus and FCV were removed to a greater extent than PRD-1 and Φ X-174, indicating that these bacteriophages may be appropriate surrogates for both adenovirus and FCV. Of the four bacteriophages studied in the pilot plant, MS-2 was removed to the greatest extent (5.1 log), followed by fr (4.9 log), PRD-1 (3.5 log), and Φ X-174 (1.3 log). The virus removal trend in the pilot-scale testing was similar to the bench-scale testing; however, the bench-scale testing seemed to provide a conservative estimate of the pilot plant performance. In the pilot-scale testing, MS-2 and fr were removed with the greatest efficiency during filtration, whereas PRD-1 and Φ X-174 showed the greatest removal during sedimentation.

Keywords:

• Adenovirus
• calicivirus
• MS-2
• fr
• PRD-1
• ΦX-174
• conventional drinking water treatment
• pilot plant study

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Office of Water, United States Environmental Protection Agency under contract 4C-W010-NAEX. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the EPA. The mention of product names does not constitute endorsement of the companies.

Notes

*Average log removals at 20 and 40 mg/l FeCl₃, respectively.