Influence of biofilm on removal of surrogate faecal microbes in a constructed wetland and maturation pond

Abstract

The effect of biofilm on the attenuation of pathogen-sized particles from wastewater was compared for biofilms cultivated in a surface flow constructed wetland (SFW) and maturation pond (MP) The fate of fluorescently labelled microspheres (FLM) as surrogates for viruses (0.1 μm), bacteria (1 μm) and parasitic protozoa (4.5 μm dia) was investigated in microcosms in the presence or absence of biofilms. Rates of FLM removal from suspension were higher in the presence of biofilms for all particle sizes (kd 0.02–0.11 h−1) in MP and SFW microcosms with removal efficiency related to particle size and biofilm thickness and structure. Greater removal of 0.1 μm (79–81%), 1 μm FLM (92–96%) and 4.5 μm FLM (up to 98%) from suspension were found for microcosms containing thicker (autotrophic) biofilms grown in the MP or open water zone of the SFW. Lower removal of 43% (0.1 μm), 59% (1 μm) and 84% (4.5 μm) occurred in microcosms containing thinner heterotrophic biofilms from SFW vegetated zones. Providing surfaces for attachment of photosynthetic biofilms offers potential to enhance pathogen removal in open water systems. In vegetated systems, linkage to more oxic openwater zones may allow thicker and ‘stickier’ epiphytic biofilms to develop, improving pathogen interception and removal.