Determining biota succession in a domestic wastewater pond system after treatment with a specific consortium microalgae

AbstractWastewater stabilization ponds (WSPs) rely on the metabolic activities of the inhabiting microbiota to treat wastewater. A selected consortium ofChlorella vulgaris andChlorella protothecoides were used to manipulate the natural resident microalgae assemblage to improve the treatment performance of a domestic wastewater pond treatment system in a coastal region. Since information is lacking about the resulting influence on the composition or succession of the phytoplankton or associated microbiota assemblage, the current study aimed to determine how dosing with the microalgaeC. vulgaris andC. protothecoides change the efficiency of wastewater effluent treatment, as well as the composition and succession of the natural occurring phytoplankton and microbial assemblage throughout WSP system. After a year of specific microalgae inoculations, the effluent in part complied with the standards set by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) and the USA, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The cyanobacteriaMicrocystis aeruginosa dominated the sixth (75%) and seventh pond (97%) before the inoculation withC. vulgaris andC. protothecoide commenced. After 12 inoculation eventsC. vulgaris and C. protothecoides were dominant in ponds three to seven while the dominant microbial groups were Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, Spirochaetes, Synergistetes and Verrucomicrobia. After the microalgae treatment, the WSP effluent were more co...
Source: Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research