RT Journal Article
T1 Effective strategies for pathogen reduction in decentralized wastewater treatment systems
A1 Lois Alvedro, Marta
A1 Rivadulla, Matías
A1 Chhetri, Ravi Kumar
A1 Suárez Martínez, Sonia
A1 Andersen, Henrik Ramus
A1 Omil Prieto, Francisco
A1 López Romalde, Jesús
K1 Decentralized treatment
K1 Membrane bioreactor
K1 Enteric viruses
K1 Enterococcus
K1 Klebsiella
AB Decentralized wastewater treatment using membrane bioreactors (MBRs) is a suitable alternative for the removal of pathogens, including bacteria and viruses, thus reducing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks. In this research, the effectiveness of different MBRs in removing pathogenic bacteria with clinical relevance (Klebsiella spp. and Enterococcus spp.) and enteric viruses (Norovirus – NoV – genogroups GI and GII, Sapovirus – SaV – and Hepatitis E Virus –HEV–) was evaluated in two decentralized collection systems: Demosite 1 (urban wastewater separated in black and grey fractions) and Demosite 2 (hospital effluents). We also evaluated the applicability of pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) as general fecal contamination biomarker in water samples and its potential as indicator of viral removal in the two decentralized systems. Our data demonstrated that decentralized treatment through anaerobic and combined anoxic/aerobic treatment methods at both demosites efficiently eliminated pathogenic bacteria and enteric viruses. Log Removal Values (LRVs) at Demosite 1 and Demosite 2 reached up to >4.98 and > 4.95 for bacteria, respectively, and >7.53 and > >6.78 for enteric viruses, respectively. Enterococcus spp. such as E. faecalis and E. hirae, and NoV (GII and a lesser extent GI) were the most recalcitrant pathogens in the systems. We also demonstrated the potential of PMMoV as an indicator of enteric viral reduction during decentralized treatment process. This work highlights the reliability of decentralized treatment systems in reducing pathogenic microorganisms, offering a practical solution for improving public health and environmental safety.
PB Elsevier
SN 0301-4797
YR 2025
FD 2025-11
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/46982
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/46982
LA eng
NO Lois, M., Rivadulla, M., Chhetri, R. K., Suárez, S., Andersen, H. R., Omil, F., & Romalde, J. L. (2025). Effective strategies for pathogen reduction in decentralized wastewater treatment systems. Journal of Environmental Management, 394, 127692. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127692
NO This research was supported by the projects PRESAGE (PCI2021- 121990) financed under the ERA-NET AquaticPollutants Joint Transnational Call (GA Nº 869,178), and ARES (PID2022-141203OB-I00) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501,100,011,033/FEDER, UE. The ERA-NET AquaticPollutants is an integral part of the activities developed by the Water, Oceans and AMR Joint Programming Initiatives”.
DS Minerva
RD 21 may 2026