1. QUANTIFYING VIRUS REMOVAL BY MANAGED AQUIFER RECHARGE
Christina Morrison, Walter Betancourt, Chuck Gerba and Ian Pepper
RESEARCH PROGRESS REPORT
UA-05-S2018
STATUS: CONTINUING – NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS REQUESTED
Relationship to Technology Roadmap: Municipal Water Use Practices and Wastewater Reuse
Background:
Key Findings:
Managed aquifer recharge – soil aquifer treatment is practiced throughout Arizona and Southern California for recycled water
Provides additional treatment of recycled water to remove pathogen and trace organics
Studies on virus removal have largely been limited to laboratory soil columns
Field studies now possible because large volumes (1,000 to 3,000 liters) can be collected and more types of viruses detected
California requires a 6-month underground retention
No detection at site WR-069B
Detection of non-human viruses at site EW-008A
Similar log reductions from both sites
PMMoV found in highest concentrations in both effluent and groundwater
CrAssphage found in groundwater on occasion
Generally 4-6 log10 reduction of virus
Duration:
Objectives:
July 1, 2017 – Dec. 31, 2018
To provide a basis for giving “Removal Credits” for virus reduction by MAR for recycled water based on
Infiltration rates
Depth to groundwater retention time (virus die-off)
Type of virus
Determine if coliphage and or Pepper Mild Mottle Virus can be used as a monitoring tool for performance
Budget Requested:
No new funds requested
Approach:
Select 3 different MAR sites for study with different quality of water and operation
Determine virus levels by qPCR and infectivity assays
This data along with previous studies will be used to develop criteria for estimating removal credit for virus by MAR
Water & Environmental Technology Center