Destruction of Faecal Bacteria, Enteroviruses and OVA of Parasites in Wastewater Sludge by Aerobic Thermophilic and Anaerobic Mesophilic Digestion

Abstract

A new sludge treatment plant at Harrogate South Sewage Treatment Works is designed to handle up to 4 tonnes (dry solids) daily. Sludge is thickened continuously up to 8% (ds) and is then treated in parallel anaerobic mesophilic (AD) and thermophilic aerobic digestion (TAD) plants each with a maximum working volume of 530m3. Microbiological studies were carried out to compare the destruction of pathogens and faecal indicator bacteria. The AD plant operated with a mean retention of 26 days at 34 °C and achieved 49% reduction of volatile solids. The TAD plant operated with a mean retention of 28 days at 55 °C and reduced volatile solids by 35%. Operation was on a pump in-pump out cycle, guaranteeing 4h retention for all sludge. The disinfecting ability of TAD exceeded that of AD since it reduced counts of Enterobacteriaceae, thermotolerant coliforms and faecal streptococci to below 103/100ml, rendered cytopathic enteroviruses undetectable and destroyed viability of Ascaris suum ova within 4h. The AD process reduced bacterial counts by 90% and enteroviruses by 99%, but has no effect upon viability of Ascaris ova.