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Indicator organism levels in effluent from Queensland coastal STPS

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Thomas, R.J., Gardner, E.A., Barry, G.A., Chinivasagam, H.N., Green, P.E., Klieve, A.V., Blackall, P.J., Blight, G.W. and Blayney, B.J. (2000) Indicator organism levels in effluent from Queensland coastal STPS. Water, 27 . pp. 38-45.

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Publisher URL: http://www.awa.asn.au

Abstract

The microbiological quality of the effluent from 33 sewage treatment plants (STPs) along the Queensland coast was investigated as part of a project to develop a quantitative model to assess the health risks associated with irrigating sugar cane with treated effluent.

Initially a single sample, from each of the 33 STPs was tested to provide an indication of the microbiological quality of effluent available for irrigation use. Ten of these STPs, selected to give a range of effluent quality and treatment types, were then tested 4 to 6 times over a 12 month period to investigate in-plant variation. Microbial counts varied widely between and within STPs. Ranges for all 92 samples (with geometric means in brackets) were : thermo tolerant coliforms, 0 to 24,000,000(388) /100mL; Clostridium perfringens, 0 to 15,000 (90) /100mL; coliphages, 0 to 6,370 (4) /100mL; Cryptosporidium, 0 to 600 (<l0) /L and Giardia, 0 to 4,840 (98) /L. All of the 10 STPs which were sampled over 12 months had Giardia counts above 150/L in at least one sample, and one STP had counts above l,OOO/L for all 5 samples. No seasonal trends were evident in the counts of any of the microorganisms assayed, and no relationship was evident between microbial count and STP type, population size or STP throughput.

None of the statistically significant relationships between assays reported in this paper were strong enough for the reliable prediction of the results of one assay from the results of another.

Item Type:Article
Corporate Creators:Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), Agri-Science, Crop and Food Science
Business groups:Crop and Food Science
Additional Information:Reproduced with permission from the Australian Water Association.
Keywords:Sewage effluent; indicator organisms; pathogens; wastewater reuse; irrigation; sugar cane; thermotolerant coliforms; Giardia.
Subjects:Science > Microbiology > Microbial ecology
Plant culture > Irrigation farming
Live Archive:29 Apr 2004
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:43

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