Nutrient attenuation dynamics in effluent dominated watercourses

Hydrodynamics and phosphorus loading in an urbanized river channel influences response to future managed change: Insights from advection-dispersion modelling

There is a need to understand what makes certain targeted measures for in-river phosphorus load reduction more effective than others. Therefore, this paper investigates multiple development scenarios in a small lowland polluted river draining an urban area (The Cut, Bracknell, UK), using an advection-dispersion model (ADModel-P). A comparative analysis is presented whereby changes in concentrations and fluxes of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and organic phosphorus (OP) have been attributed to specific transformations (mineralization, sedimentation, resuspension, adsorption-desorption, and algal uptake) and correlated to controlling factors. Under present day conditions the river stretch is a net source of SRP (10.4 % increase in mean concentration) implying a release of previously accumulated material. Scenarios with the greatest impact are those based on managed reduction of phosphorus load in sources (e.g., 20 % increase in afforestation causes an in-river SRP and OP reduction of 1.3 % to 12.6 %) followed by scenarios involving changes in water temperature (e.g., 1 °C decrease leads to in-river SRP reduction around 3.1 %). Measures involving increased river residence time show the lowest effects (e.g., 16 % decrease in velocity results in under 0.02 % in-river SRP and OP reduction). For better understanding downstream persistence of phosphorus pollution and the effectiveness of mitigation measures the research demonstrates the importance of establishing when and where reaches are net adsorbers or desorbers, and whether sedimentation or resuspension is important.

Mass variations and transfer process of shrimp farming pollutants in aquaculture drainage systems: Effects of DOM features and physicochemical properties

The expansion of aquaculture produces increasing pollutant loads, necessitating the use of drainage systems to discharge wastewater into surface water. To assess the mass variations and transfer process of aquaculture wastewater, an entire aquaculture drainage investigation lasting for 48 h was conducted, focusing on the nutrients, heavy metals, dissolved organic matter (DOM), and physicochemical properties of drainage in a commercial shrimp farm. The findings revealed that early drainage produced more heavy metals, total nitrogen (TN), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), and feed-like proteins from aquaculture floating feed and additives, whereas late drainage produced more PO43--P and total dissolved phosphorus (TP). A few pollutants, including DON, Cu, and feed-like proteins, were effectively removed, whereas the contents of TN, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, and Zn increased in the multi-level aquaculture drainage system. Limited dilution indicated that in-stream transfer was the main process shaping pollutant concentrations within the drainage system. In the lower ditches, NO3--N, heavy metals, and feed-like proteins exhibited evident in-stream attenuation, while TN and NH4+-N underwent significant in-stream enrichment processes, especially in ditch C, with the transfer coefficient values (vf) of -1.74E-5 and -2.04E-5. This indicates that traditional aquaculture drainage systems serve as nitrogen sinks, rather than efficient nutrient purge facilitators. Notably, DOM was identified as a more influential factor in shaping the in-stream transfer process in aquaculture drainage systems, with an interpretation rate 40.79% higher than that of the physiochemical properties. Consequently, it is necessary to eliminate the obstacles posed by DOM to pollutant absorption and net zero emissions in aquaculture drainage systems in the future. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS: Nutrients, heavy metals, and dissolved organic matter are hazardous pollutants originating from high-density aquaculture. As the sole conduit to natural waters, aquaculture drainage systems have pivotal functions in receiving and purifying wastewater, in which the in-stream transfer process is affected by ambient conditions. This field study investigated the spatial variations, stage distinctions, effects of physicochemical properties, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) features. This finding suggests that the aquaculture drainage system as a nitrogen sink and DOM source. While the DOM is the key factor in shaping the in-stream transfer process, and obstacles for pollutant elimination. This study helps in understanding the fate of aquaculture pollutants and reveals the drawbacks of traditional aquaculture drainage systems.

Wastewater treatment plant effluent inputs influence the temporal variability of nutrient uptake in an intermittent stream

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents alter water chemistry and in-stream nutrient uptake rates of receiving freshwaters, thus changing the magnitude and fate of the nutrients exported. In Mediterranean regions, the dilution capacity of receiving streams can vary strongly over time due to the seasonal occurrence of floods and droughts, causing temporal variability of nutrient uptake. We assessed the temporal patterns and the controlling factors of net nutrient uptake in an intermittent Mediterranean stream receiving WWTP effluent inputs. We compiled the longitudinal concentration profiles of ambient dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) along a 800 m reach on 47 sampling dates between 2001 and 2017, encompassing a wide range of hydrological conditions. We estimated net nutrient uptake in the receiving stream. In 72% of the dates, high rates of net ammonium uptake co-occurred with net releases of either nitrate or nitrite. This pattern suggests that the receiving stream has a high nitrification capacity. Conversely, 75% of the dates did not show any longitudinal pattern in SRP concentration, suggesting that uptake and release processes for this element were either counterbalanced or both occurred at very low rates. Finally, net ammonium uptake was low when the stream had a low dilution capacity (< 40%) and ammonium concentration was high. Overall, we demonstrate that consideration of the receiving stream’s dilution capacity is imperative to the management of freshwaters to guarantee an adequate dilution of WWTP effluent inputs and avoid saturation of in-stream nutrient uptake capacity under low flow conditions in urban landscapes.

Removal of Fecal Indicator Bacteria by River Networks

Fecal contamination is a significant source of water quality impairment globally. Aquatic ecosystems can provide an important ecosystem service of fecal contamination removal. Understanding the processes that regulate the removal of fecal contamination among river networks across flow conditions is critical. We applied a river network model, the Framework for Aquatic Modeling in the Earth System (FrAMES-Ecoli), to quantify removal of fecal indicator bacteria by river networks across flow conditions during summers in a series of New England watersheds of different characteristics. FrAMES-Ecoli simulates sources, transport, and riverine removal of Escherichia coli (E. coli). Aquatic E. coli removal was simulated in both the water column and the hyporheic zone, and is a function of hydraulic conditions, flow exchange rates with the hyporheic zone, and die-off in each compartment. We found that, at the river network scale during summers, removal by river networks can be high (19–99%) with variability controlled by hydrologic conditions, watershed size, and distribution of sources in the watershed. Hydrology controls much of the variability, with 68–99% of network scale inputs removed under base flow conditions and 19–85% removed during storm events. Removal by the water column alone could not explain the observed pattern in E. coli, suggesting that processes such as hyporheic removal must be considered. These results suggest that river network removal of fecal indicator bacteria should be taken into consideration in managing fecal contamination at critical downstream receiving waters.

Comprehensive Genomic Survey of Antimicrobial-Resistance Bacteria in the Sewage Tank Replacement with Hospital Relocation

Background

Excrement containing antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) is discharged from the hospital sewage through wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) into rivers, increasing the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) burden on the environment.

Purpose

We illustrate the contamination of hospital sewage tanks with ARB harboring antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) using comprehensive metagenomic sequencing. During the study period, we moved to a new hospital building constructed for renovation. Therefore, we investigated the difference in bacterial flora in the sewage tanks for each building with different departments, and the change in bacterial flora over time in new sewage tanks. Furthermore, we performed a comparative genome analysis of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms (EPOs) from hospital sewage and clinical samples. Residual antibiotics in the sewage tank were also measured.

Methods

Metagenomic analysis was performed on the hospital sewage samples, followed by whole genome sequencing of EPOs.

Results

The bacterial composition of new sewage tanks was comparable with that of old tanks within 1 month after relocation and was instantly affected by excrement. The bacterial composition of sewage tanks in the old and new buildings, containing rooms where seriously ill patients were treated, was similar. Selection on CHROMagar ESBL allowed detection of EPOs harboring bla_CTX-M and carbapenemase genes in all sewage tanks. One of the sewage Escherichia coli strain comprising ST393 harboring bla_CTX-M-27 corresponded to the clinical isolates based on core genome analysis. Moreover, the levels of levofloxacin and clarithromycin in the hospital sewage were 0.0325 and 0.0135 µg/mL, respectively.

Conclusion

Hospital sewage was contaminated with many ARB species, ARGs and residual antibiotics, which can cause a burden on WWTP sewage treatment. The bacterial flora in the sewage tank was rapidly affected, especially by the ward with seriously ill patients. AMR monitoring of hospital sewage may help detect carriers prior to nosocomial ARB-associated outbreaks and control the outbreaks.

Pharmaceutical compound removal efficiency by a small constructed wetland located in south Brazil

The fate of pharmaceuticals during the treatment of effluents is of major concern since they are not completely degraded and because of their persistence and mobility in environment. Indeed, even at low concentrations, they represent a risk to aquatic life and human health. In this work, fourteen pharmaceuticals were monitored in a constructed wetland wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) assessed in both influent and effluent samples. The basic water quality parameters were evaluated, and the removal efficiency of pharmaceutical, potential for bioaccumulation, and the impact of WWTP were assessed using Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler (POCIS) and biofilms. The pharmaceutical compounds were quantified by High Performance Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The sampling campaign was carried out during winter (July/2018) and summer (January/2019). The WWTP performed well regarding the removal of TSS, COD, and BOD₅ and succeeded to eliminate a significant part of the organic and inorganic pollution present in domestic wastewater but has low efficiency regarding the removal of pharmaceutical compounds. Biofilms were shown to interact with pharmaceuticals and were reported to play a role in their capture from water. The antibiotics were reported to display a high risk for aquatic organisms.

Cryptic night-time trace metal and metalloid contamination in an intensively cultivated coastal catchment

Detailed, high resolution time-series observations were performed to investigate sources, diel cycling, natural attenuation, and loadings of dissolved trace metals/metalloids in a subtropical headwater stream draining intensive horticulture in Australia. A transect of ∼3 km away from the source (farms) showed >75% reduction in concentration and loads of most trace elements. Mercury and arsenic had elevated loads downstream relative to other elements. Hourly time-series sampling revealed elevated creek discharge at night, accompanied by elevated nickel, selenium, copper, and mercury loads. Inputs from groundwater or treated sewage used for irrigation within the catchment are likely sources. Groundwater bore and treated sewage samples were highly contaminated with either zinc, copper, or mercury. Comparisons of daily and hourly samples indicated common sampling strategies can underestimate horticultural contaminant loadings. Load estimates for mercury and copper derived from hourly samples were 1.6- to 7- fold greater than loads from daily sample data collected over 79 days with varying rainfall. These high contaminant concentrations and loads are of concern to food products receiving irrigation and protected waterbodies downstream.

River biofilms adapted to anthropogenic disturbances are more resistant to WWTP inputs

The sensitivity and spatial recovery of river sediment biofilms along 1 km after the input of two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in two river reaches with different degrees of anthropogenic influence were investigated. First, at the upper reach, we observed an inhibition of some microbial functions (microbial respiration and extracellular enzyme activities) and strong shifts in bacterial community composition (16S rRNA gene), whereas an increase in microbial biomass and activity and less pronounced effect on microbial diversity and community composition were seen at the lower reach. Second, at the lower reach we observed a quick spatial recovery (around 200 m downstream of the effluent) as most of the functions and community composition were similar to those from reference sites. On the other hand, bacterial community composition and water quality at the upper reach was still altered 1 km from the WWTP effluent. Our results indicate that biofilms in the upstream sites were more sensitive to the effect of WWTPs due to a lower degree of tolerance after a disturbance than communities located in more anthropogenically impacted sites.