Rich microbial communities inhabit water treatment biofilters and are differentially affected by filter type and sampling depth

Factors affecting microbial diversity (richness) and community structure in biofilter columns were investigated. At a pilot filtration plant, granular activated carbon (GAC), anthracite and sand-based filters were used to treat stormwater from an urban catchment. After 12 weeks operation, sand media...

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Main Authors: Wakelin, S.A., Page, D.W., Pavelic, Paul, Gregg, A.L., Dillon, P.J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: IWA Publishing 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40552
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author Wakelin, S.A.
Page, D.W.
Pavelic, Paul
Gregg, A.L.
Dillon, P.J.
author_browse Dillon, P.J.
Gregg, A.L.
Page, D.W.
Pavelic, Paul
Wakelin, S.A.
author_facet Wakelin, S.A.
Page, D.W.
Pavelic, Paul
Gregg, A.L.
Dillon, P.J.
author_sort Wakelin, S.A.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Factors affecting microbial diversity (richness) and community structure in biofilter columns were investigated. At a pilot filtration plant, granular activated carbon (GAC), anthracite and sand-based filters were used to treat stormwater from an urban catchment. After 12 weeks operation, sand media filters clogged (hydraulic conductivity declining by 90%) and all filters were destructively sampled. All biofilters had similar levels of polysaccharide in the surface layer, however only the sand columns clogged. This clogging may have been due to a combination of polysaccharide and small particle size, the development of a sand-specific microbial community, or other biogeochemical interactions. DNA fingerprinting was used to show that bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic communities were present in all filter types and at all sampling depths (to 45 cm). The bacterial community was far richer (Margalefs index, d, 1.5-2) than the other groups. This was consistent across filter types and sampling depths. The structure of the bacteria and archaea communities in sand filters differed to those in GAC and anthracite filters (P<0.05). In contrast, eukaryotic communities were similar in surface biofilm layers, irrespective of filter type. As such, physicochemical properties of filters differentially influence the microbial community. Furthermore, we have established that archaea are distributed throughout biofilters; the role of these microorganisms in water treatment and filter function, particularly clogging, requires attention.
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spelling CGSpace405522025-06-17T08:24:21Z Rich microbial communities inhabit water treatment biofilters and are differentially affected by filter type and sampling depth Wakelin, S.A. Page, D.W. Pavelic, Paul Gregg, A.L. Dillon, P.J. filtration filters water purification bacteria clogging Factors affecting microbial diversity (richness) and community structure in biofilter columns were investigated. At a pilot filtration plant, granular activated carbon (GAC), anthracite and sand-based filters were used to treat stormwater from an urban catchment. After 12 weeks operation, sand media filters clogged (hydraulic conductivity declining by 90%) and all filters were destructively sampled. All biofilters had similar levels of polysaccharide in the surface layer, however only the sand columns clogged. This clogging may have been due to a combination of polysaccharide and small particle size, the development of a sand-specific microbial community, or other biogeochemical interactions. DNA fingerprinting was used to show that bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic communities were present in all filter types and at all sampling depths (to 45 cm). The bacterial community was far richer (Margalefs index, d, 1.5-2) than the other groups. This was consistent across filter types and sampling depths. The structure of the bacteria and archaea communities in sand filters differed to those in GAC and anthracite filters (P<0.05). In contrast, eukaryotic communities were similar in surface biofilm layers, irrespective of filter type. As such, physicochemical properties of filters differentially influence the microbial community. Furthermore, we have established that archaea are distributed throughout biofilters; the role of these microorganisms in water treatment and filter function, particularly clogging, requires attention. 2010-04-01 2014-06-13T14:47:54Z 2014-06-13T14:47:54Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40552 en Limited Access IWA Publishing Wakelin, S. A.; Page, D. W.; Pavelic, Paul; Gregg, A. L.; Dillon, P. 2010. Rich microbial communities inhabit water treatment biofilters and are differentially affected by filter type and sampling depth. Water Science and Technology, 10(2):145-156. doi: https://doi.org/doi:10.2166/ws.2010.570
spellingShingle filtration
filters
water purification
bacteria
clogging
Wakelin, S.A.
Page, D.W.
Pavelic, Paul
Gregg, A.L.
Dillon, P.J.
Rich microbial communities inhabit water treatment biofilters and are differentially affected by filter type and sampling depth
title Rich microbial communities inhabit water treatment biofilters and are differentially affected by filter type and sampling depth
title_full Rich microbial communities inhabit water treatment biofilters and are differentially affected by filter type and sampling depth
title_fullStr Rich microbial communities inhabit water treatment biofilters and are differentially affected by filter type and sampling depth
title_full_unstemmed Rich microbial communities inhabit water treatment biofilters and are differentially affected by filter type and sampling depth
title_short Rich microbial communities inhabit water treatment biofilters and are differentially affected by filter type and sampling depth
title_sort rich microbial communities inhabit water treatment biofilters and are differentially affected by filter type and sampling depth
topic filtration
filters
water purification
bacteria
clogging
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40552
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