New advances in the measurement of bacteria growth in wastewater have the potential to increase the efficiency of wastewater treatment systems, according to a University of Queensland researcher.
Biotechnologist Dr Peter Pollard said the improved fundamental understanding of the microbial processes involved in breaking down sewage ultimately would result in changes to the design of wastewater treatment plants.
Dr Pollard is a research fellow at the Advanced Wastewater Management Centre, and was recently awarded his PhD in chemical engineering.
'Until now the wastewater industry has considered the direct measurement of bacterial growth in the treatment environment impossible,' he said.
'Today's municipal wastewater treatment plants use bacteria to remove pollution-causing nutrients from the wastewater before it is released into the environment.
'Our understanding, design, control and operation of these processes relies on how fast bacteria grow and degrade the waste, but little was known about bacterial dynamics in the treatment process.'
Dr Pollard said that while for most people the treatment of human waste, or biosolids, was a case of 'out of sight, out of mind', changes in public attitudes, philosophies and government policies demanded minimalisation of waste production, maximisation of efficient treatment and reuse of wastewater.
'How often do we ask where our human waste goes? We accept that it is being treated effectively and efficiently so as not to pollute our drinking water, or to damage the riverine and coastal environments which are so much a part of the Australian culture and lifestyle.
'More than ever before, treatment authorities are required to achieve higher wastewater treatment standards and more cost-effective operations.'
Dr Pollard said the ability to measure bacterial growth in situ should lead ultimately to a significant improvement in the design, control and cost efficiency of treatment systems.
'In the future, measuring bacteria directly in each treatment plant will mean design and control which takes into account the different localities and even seasonal and diurnal changes,' he said.
For more information, contact Dr Pollard on (07) 3365 1558.
