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Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC V4.0, Open
Journal article
Science-based pathogen treatment requirements for direct potable reuse
Environmental science: water research & technology, (12), pp.3377-3390
01/12/2023
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Abstract
Specifying appropriate pathogen treatment requirements is critical to ensure that direct potable reuse (DPR) systems provide consistent and reliable protection of public health. This study leverages several research efforts conducted on behalf of the California State Water Resources Control Board to provide guidance on selecting science-based pathogen treatment requirements for DPR. Advancements in pathogen detection methods have produced new robust, high-quality datasets that can be used to characterize the distribution of pathogen concentrations present in raw wastewater. Such probabilistic distributions should replace the deterministic point estimate approach previously used in regulatory development. Specifically, to calculate pathogen treatment requirements, pathogen distributions should be used in probabilistic quantitative microbial risk assessments that account for variability in concentrations. This approach was applied using the latest high-quality datasets to determine the log reduction targets necessary to achieve an annual risk goal of 1 in 10 000 infections per person as well as a more stringent daily risk goal of 2.7 × 10−7 infections per person. The probabilistic approach resulted in pathogen log reduction targets of 13-log10 for enteric viruses, 10-log <sub>10</sub> for Giardia, and 10-log10 for Cryptosporidium. An additional 4-log10 level of redundancy provides protection against undetected failures while maintaining high degrees of compliance with the daily (99%) and annual risk goals (>99%). The limitations of the use of molecular pathogen data are also discussed. While the recommendations and findings are targeted for California, they are broadly applicable to the development of DPR regulations outside California and the U.S.
Details
- Title
- Science-based pathogen treatment requirements for direct potable reuse
- Creators
- Brian M Pecson - Trussell TechnologiesAnya Kaufmann - Trussell TechnologiesDaniel Gerrity - Southern Nevada Water AuthorityCharles N Haas - Drexel UniversityEdmund Seto - University of WashingtonNicholas J Ashbolt - University of South AustraliaTheresa Slifko - Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (USA, California)Emily Darby - Trussell TechnologiesAdam Olivieri - EOA (USA, California)
- Publication Details
- Environmental science: water research & technology, (12), pp.3377-3390
- Publisher
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Number of pages
- 14
- Grant note
- This work was supported by the California State Water Resources Control Board with funding from Proposition 1 Water Recycling Research (Water Bond 2014) via Grant Agreement No. D1705002, and by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California with funding from the Future Supply Actions Funding Program via Agreement No. 180315.
- Identifiers
- 991013246960602368
- Copyright
- © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2023
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article