FATE OF SPECIFIC PATHOGEN INDICATOR IN EXTENDED AERATION

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, UTHM

DR. NORSHUHAILA BlNTl MOHAMED SUNAR MASAYU BlNTl MASLAN

GERAN STG NO. VOT 1083

UNlVERSlTl TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA

ABSTRACT

Pathogen indicators normally used in water quality indicator because large numbers of

the bacteria are always present in the faeces of humans, but are not naturally found in

water. Since these bacteria don't live long in water once outside the intestine, their

presence in water means there has been recent contamination through effluent

discharges or other sources. Like other enteric pathogens, a common mode of

transmission for E.coli is via contaminated water, food and by direct person to person

contact. Infection often causes severe bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and possibly

fever. In some cases, infection can lead to kidney failure and possibly death. In order to

evaluate the efficiency of extended aeration wastewater treatment plant (EAWWTP),

the microbial analysis such as enumeration of E.coli and total coliform were measured.

Besides, this study also involved the measurements of pH, turbidity, DO (Dissolve

Oxygen), BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) and

SS (Suspended Solid). This study summarized that each treatment process gives

important roles to overall efficiency of EAWWTP. The secondary treatment was proved

sufficient not only on reducing pathogen indicators but for all examined parameters.

Significantly, this study conclude that numbers of pathogen indicators discharges in

effluent meet the regulated standard guideline after treated through the EAWWTP.

ABSTRAK

Petunjuk patogen digunakan sebagai penunjuk kualiti air kerana sejumlah besar bakteria

sentiasa hadir dalam najis manusia, tetapi tidak secara semulajadi terdapat di dalam air.

Oleh kerana bakteria ini tidak hidup lama dalam air sekali di luar usus, kehadirannya di

dalam air bermaksud terdapat pencemaran yang hadir melalui pelepasan effluen atau

sumber-sumber lain. Seperti lain-lain patogen enterik, cara biasa penghantaran adalah

melalui air tercemar, makanan dan manusia kepada manusia secara langsung. Jangkitan

sering menyebabkan cirit-birit berdarah teruk, kram perut, dan mungkin demam. Dalam

beberapa kes, jangkitan boleh membawa kepada kegagalan buah pinggang dan

kemungkinan kematian. Dalam usaha untuk menilai kecekapan loji rawatan air sisa

pengudaraan lanjutan (EAWWTP), analisis mikrob seperti penghitungan E.coli dan

jumlah koliform diukur. Selain itu, kajian ini juga melibatkan ukuran pH, kekeruhan,

DO (Oksigen Terlarut), BOD (Keperluan Oksigen Biokimia), COD (Keperluan Oksigen

Kimia) dan SS (Pepejal Terampai). Kajian ini diringkaskan yang setiap proses rawatan

menyediakan peranan penting kepada keberkesanan keseluruhan EAWWTP. Rawatan

sekunder telah membuktikan bahawa bukan hanya mencukupi dengan mengurangkan

petunjuk patogen tetapi untuk semua parameter juga perlu diperiksa. Secara signifikan,

kajian ini menyimpulkan bahawa jumlah peiepasan penunjuk patogen dalam efluen

memenuhi garis panduan standard terkawal selepas dirawat melalui EAWWTP.

LIST OF TABLES

NO. TITLE

viii

PAGE

Table 2.1

Table 2.2

Table 2.3

Table 2.4

Table 2.5

Table 2.6

Table 2.7

Table 2.8

Table 3.1

Table 4.1

Composition of human feces and urine (Mara, 1994)

Typical composition of untreated domestic wastewater

(Metcalf and Eddy, 2004)

Typical of Organisms of Untreated Domestic

Wastewater (Metcalf and Eddy, 2007)

Typical and Number of Microorganisms of Untreated

Domestic Wastewater (Metcalf and Eddy, 2007)

Parameter Limits of Effluent of Standard A and

Standard B (Environment Quality Act, 1974)

The Interim Marine Water Quality Standard (IMWQS)

(DOE Report, 2006)

National Water Quality Standard for Malaysia (Source :

EQR2006)

Water Classes And Uses(Source : EQR2006)

Sample Concentration Range and COD Digestion

Reagent Vial Types

Parameter Standard (Parameter Limits of Effluents of

Standards A and B (DOE, 2006); National Water

Quality Standard for Malaysia (Source : EQR2006)

1.2 Problem Statement

Number of student at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia is approximately near to

15,000 peoples. Large volume of untreated wastewaterif directly discharged into river it

will bring pollution to the river. The E.coli and total coliform are the harmful bacteria

contains in wastewater. The infection is coming into contact with the feces, or stool, of

humans or animals. This can happen when we drink water or eat food that has been

contaminated by feces. These pathogen can also spread from one person to another,

usually when an infected person does not wash his or her hands well after a bowel

movement. It can spread from an infected person's hands to other people or to objects.

The pathogens in wastewater need to remove before it will discharge into the stream.

People can become infected when a contaminated city or town water supply has not

been properly treated or when people accidentally swallow contaminated water while

swimming in a stream, lake, pool, or irrigation canal. This study is important because it

will give knowledge about the efficiencies EEWWTP to remove E.coli and total

coliform. Previously, water quality test at extended aeration wastewater treatment plant

UTHM just involved on physical and chemical parameters. Therefore this study is

carried to examine the biological contaminations by using specific pathogens indicato

1.3 Objective of the Study

The objectives of this study are:-

(i) To understand the process of EAWWTP specifically to biological

parameter.

(ii) To determine the efficiency of EAWWTP to remove pathogen

indicators.

(iii) To analyze the removal of E.coli and total colifom in EAWWTP.

1.4 Scope of the Study

Wastewater samples were collected from wastewater treatment plant at Universiti Tun

Hussein Onn Malaysia. The plant is a major treatment facility in UTHM, which process

wastewater was originating from campus and hostels area. Sample source collected at

every batch of extended aeration wastewater treatment plant. Characteristic of the

following parameters will be assessed:

i) PH ii) Turbidity

iii)DO (Dissolve Oxygen)

iv) BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand)

v) COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)

vi) SS ( Suspended Solid)

vii) Enumeration of E.coli and total coliform

process is said to be in an aerobic environment and this process produces non-

objectionable, stable end products such as carbon dioxide (C02), sulphate

(So4) and nitrate (NO3). Processes without the presence of oxygen are said to

be in an anaerobic environment.

Therefore, the biochemical oxygen demand defined as the amount of

oxygen required by microorganism to oxidize organic wastes aerobically in the

presence of oxygen. It is often expressed in milligrams of oxygen required per

litre of wastewater (mg/L) although it may have various units. Most pristine

rivers will have a 5-day BOD below 1 mg/L. Moderately, polluted rivers may

have a BOD value in the range of 2 to 8 mg/L.

The total amount of oxygen that will be required for biodegradation is

an important measure of the impact that a given effluent will have on the

receiving watercourse. A standard practice to measure and report the depletion

of oxygen demand had been restricted to a five-day BOD, also known as

BOD5, is the total amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms during the

first five days of the biodegradation process.

ii) Chemical oxygen demand (COD)

The chemical oxygen demand (COD) test is commonly used to indirectly

measure the amount of organic compounds in water. Most applications of

COD determine .the amount of organic pollutants found in surface water (e.g.

lakes and river), making COD a useful measure of water quality. It is

expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/L), which indicates the mass of oxygen

consumed per liter of solution. Older references may express the units as parts

per million (ppm).

The COD test is more sophisticated and has more advantages than the

BOD5 test because the results are available within two and half hours instead

of five days. The test also has the capability of measuring organic material which is resistant to biological decay. The COD is used comprehensively in

evaluating the waste treatment processes for industrial wastes for which BOD5

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