Tetracycline Resistant Bacteria Occurrence Before and After Treating Wastewater Effluents with Algal Turf Scrubbers
Abstract
Background:
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are known to be hot spots for antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB). When introduced to the environment they can end up in water, sediment, and fish tissue. Using algae has been shown to be an effective method to remove excessive nutrients from the WWTPs. The purpose of this study is to assess algal turf scrubbers (ATS) as a sustainable way to reduce ARB from effluents.
Methods:
Water samples from the effluent and after ATS treatment were taken once a week and filtered at 10, 50, 100, and 300mL. Filters then placed on MI agar (with and without tetracycline) and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. Escherichia coli colonies appear blue under ambient light and blue-green under fluorescent light were reported as CFU/100 mL.
Results:
E. coli colonies at the WWTP effluent ranged from 1-29 CFU/100mL with an average of 7±9 CFU/100mL. The tetracycline resistant E. coli ranged from 0-11 with an average of 2 CFU/100mL. Post ATS treatment colonies on MI agar ranged from 1-26 CFU/100mL with an average of 6±7 CFU/100mL, where tetracycline resistant E. coli ranged from 0-6 CFU/100mL with an average of 2±1 CFU/100mL.
Conclusion:
Antibiotic resistance is considered to be an emerging contaminant. Although the initial tetracycline resistant bacteria concentrations are low and our ATS system is a small channel, our preliminary results show a decrease in antibiotic resistant bacteria when ATS is included as an additional treatment technology to conventional wastewater treatment. Using nature based systems to improve wastewater treatment is a promising tool to improve water quality in our environment and protect human health. Future research will involve a larger ATS system to be installed at the facility to test for better removal and also target other antibiotic resistant bacteria along with other emerging contaminants.
Keywords
Wastewater treatment, algal turf scrubber, emerging contaminants, tetracycline resistant bacteria, Escherichia coli
Tetracycline Resistant Bacteria Occurrence Before and After Treating Wastewater Effluents with Algal Turf Scrubbers
Background:
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are known to be hot spots for antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB). When introduced to the environment they can end up in water, sediment, and fish tissue. Using algae has been shown to be an effective method to remove excessive nutrients from the WWTPs. The purpose of this study is to assess algal turf scrubbers (ATS) as a sustainable way to reduce ARB from effluents.
Methods:
Water samples from the effluent and after ATS treatment were taken once a week and filtered at 10, 50, 100, and 300mL. Filters then placed on MI agar (with and without tetracycline) and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. Escherichia coli colonies appear blue under ambient light and blue-green under fluorescent light were reported as CFU/100 mL.
Results:
E. coli colonies at the WWTP effluent ranged from 1-29 CFU/100mL with an average of 7±9 CFU/100mL. The tetracycline resistant E. coli ranged from 0-11 with an average of 2 CFU/100mL. Post ATS treatment colonies on MI agar ranged from 1-26 CFU/100mL with an average of 6±7 CFU/100mL, where tetracycline resistant E. coli ranged from 0-6 CFU/100mL with an average of 2±1 CFU/100mL.
Conclusion:
Antibiotic resistance is considered to be an emerging contaminant. Although the initial tetracycline resistant bacteria concentrations are low and our ATS system is a small channel, our preliminary results show a decrease in antibiotic resistant bacteria when ATS is included as an additional treatment technology to conventional wastewater treatment. Using nature based systems to improve wastewater treatment is a promising tool to improve water quality in our environment and protect human health. Future research will involve a larger ATS system to be installed at the facility to test for better removal and also target other antibiotic resistant bacteria along with other emerging contaminants.
