Grantee Research Project Results
Human Enteric Viruses and Viral Surrogates as Measures of Water Reuse Potential from Centralized and Decentralized Wastewater Treatment
EPA Grant Number: R840259Title: Human Enteric Viruses and Viral Surrogates as Measures of Water Reuse Potential from Centralized and Decentralized Wastewater Treatment
Investigators: Heufelder, George , Baumgaertel, Brian , Olmsted, Emily Michele , Regan, Kathleen , Pancorbo, Oscar C
Current Investigators: Heufelder, George , Baumgaertel, Brian , Olmsted, Emily Michele , Pancorbo, Oscar C , Wigginton, Sarah
Institution: Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
EPA Project Officer: Ludwig-Monty, Sarah
Project Period: August 1, 2021 through July 31, 2024
Project Amount: $1,239,655
RFA: Viral Pathogen and Surrogate Approaches for Assessing Treatment Performance in Water Reuse (2021) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water Treatment
Description:
This study will investigate 12 decentralized wastewater treatment modalities and three municipal treatment unit processes for their capability to remove human enteric viruses to a level that will allow safe reuse of treated wastewater. Leveraging resources currently in place at Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Western Regional Office (MassDEP-WES), we will determine the fate of indigenous human adenoviruses and noroviruses, and five viral surrogates subjected to the above-referenced treatments by concurrently measuring the levels of these microbial targets using state-of-the-art culturable and molecular (genomic) analytical methods.
Indigenous male-specific and somatic coliphages will be concentrated and cultured using EPA Method 1642 on site at MASSTC, while concurrent concentrated samples will be transported to MassDEP-WES where droplet digital (ddPCR) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analyses will be used to assay indigenous human adenoviruses, human noroviruses GI and GII, as well as the human viral surrogates crAssphage, pepper mild mottle virus, and human associated Bacteroides HF183 target gene sequence.
Objective:
The goal of the study is to determine any significant correlations between the occurrence and the log10 reduction values (LRV) of the five viral surrogates and the human pathogenic enteric adenoviruses and noroviruses. Accordingly, throughout the technology testing process, LRV of genomic copies measured by ddPCR and qPCR and of cultured male-specific and somatic coliphages will be compared.
Expected Results:
Any significant correlations will serve to validate the use of one or more of these five viral surrogate assays to predict the effectiveness of wastewater treatment modalities for the selected pathogenic enteric viruses and provide economical and available means to assess the health risk for wastewater treatment trials in the future.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 1 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 1 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Innovative/Alternative Technologies, onsite septic systems, bioreactors, EPA Region 1, soil treatment, media filters, human enteric viral pathogens, viral surrogatesProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.