Wastewater microorganisms impact the micropollutant biotransformation potential of natural stream biofilms

Desiante, Werner L.; Carles, Louis; Wullschleger, Simon; Joss, Adriano; Stamm, Christian; Fenner, Kathrin

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2022.118413

Cited by 24 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…This was confirmed by the water analyses in the channels, which shoed increased concentrations of ortho -phosphate, nitrate and dissolved organic carbon in both 80% unfiltered and ultra-filtered wastewater treatments compared to those in the control treatment (i.e. 0% wastewater) (Desiante et al, 2022).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…Regardless of the underlying mechanisms, an important insight from our study is that following the ultrafiltration of the wastewater, which removed more than 99 % of the microorganisms, no increased tolerance was observed in periphyton (Table 2 and Figure S5). Similarly, Desiante et al (2022) have reported on a loss of micropollutant biotransformation potential by periphyton, one of the mechanisms potentially explaining tolerance, following the ultrafiltration of the wastewater. Collectively, such findings point towards a major role that microorganisms originating from the WWTPs play in community tolerance to micropollutants.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…The experiment was conducted in a flow-through channel system called “Maiandros” that mimics natural conditions in freshwater streams but allows for targeted manipulations. Initially described by Burdon et al (2020), this system was subsequently equipped with a light system to ensure a photoperiod of 12h light: 12h dark (Carles et al, 2021), as well as with an automated-online monitoring system for parameters such as flow rate, water conductivity and temperature (Desiante et al, 2022). The ultra-filtration (UF) unit added to the system consisted of a membrane module of 50 m 2 surface and a nominal pore size of 0.4 μm, allowing for the removal of particulates (including microorganisms) from the effluent, with a microorganism removal efficiency of 99.3% (Desiante et al, 2022).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Initially described by Burdon et al (2020), this system was subsequently equipped with a light system to ensure a photoperiod of 12h light: 12h dark (Carles et al, 2021), as well as with an automated-online monitoring system for parameters such as flow rate, water conductivity and temperature (Desiante et al, 2022). The ultra-filtration (UF) unit added to the system consisted of a membrane module of 50 m 2 surface and a nominal pore size of 0.4 μm, allowing for the removal of particulates (including microorganisms) from the effluent, with a microorganism removal efficiency of 99.3% (Desiante et al, 2022). The Maiandros system allowed controlled mixing of different waters for comparative experiments in 20 independent flow-through channels (total length of 2.6 m, 0.15 m width and 0.1 m water depth).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Each channel is equipped with a paddle wheel providing 0.2 m s -1 horizontal flow speed. The channels were continuously fed with a mixture of stream water that was directly pumped from Chriesbach, a small peri-urban stream (47°24'16.7"N 8°36'41.4"E; Dübendorf, Switzerland), and wastewater treated for nitrification and denitrification (Desiante et al, 2022), thereafter called "wastewater". The 20 channels were randomly assigned to five treatments (n = four independent replicate channels per treatment), corresponding to a nominal proportion of 0% (control), 30% and 80% of either unfiltered (WW) or ultra-filtered (UF) wastewater.…”

Section: Experimental System and Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wastewater microorganisms impact microbial diversity and important ecological functions of stream periphyton

Carles¹,

Wullschleger²,

Joss³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Wastewater treatment plant effluents can impact microbial communities in receiving streams. However, little is known about the role of microorganisms in wastewater as opposed to other wastewater constituents, such as nutrients and micropollutants. We aimed therefore at determining the impact of wastewater microorganisms on the microbial diversity and function of periphyton, key microbial communities in streams. Periphyton was grown in flow-through channels that were continuously alimented with a mixture of stream water and unfiltered or ultra-filtered wastewater. Impacts were assessed on periphyton biomass, activities and tolerance to micropollutants, as well as on microbial diversity. Our results showed that wastewater microorganisms colonized periphyton and modified its community composition, resulting for instance in an increased abundance of Chloroflexi and a decreased abundance of diatoms and green algae. This led to shifts towards heterotrophy, as suggested by the changes in nutrient stoichiometry and the increased mineralization potential of carbon substrates. An increased tolerance towards micropollutants was only found for periphyton exposed to unfiltered wastewater but not to ultra-filtered wastewater, suggesting that wastewater microorganisms were responsible for this increased tolerance. Overall, our results highlight the need to consider the role of wastewater microorganisms when studying potential impacts of wastewater on the receiving water body.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 61%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 90%