Next generation DNA techniques for next generation water treatment
ThemeWastewater Treatment, Innovation / new techniques, Measuring & Monitoring
Summary
This project aims to unlock valuable information contained within the activated sludge (AS) of wastewater treatment plants. With third generation DNA sequencing technology (NGS) the microbial population within activated sludge will become visible and measurable. The sludge will be analysed monthly during one year.
This will result in the first DNA-database of a wastewater treatment plant of the Netherlands.
The resulting data will be used to gain focus on specific themes, such as:
Gaining insight in the general microbial composition of AS and how this varies over time. Various groups or themes will be distinguished, such as:
- Antibiotic resistance genes
- (potential) pathogens
- Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR)
- Nitrification
- …
By combining AS data with traditional physical and chemical data that is collected for the treatment plant, correlations will be identified and hypotheses tested.
This new insight on the AS offers opportunities to develop new tools and to generate data with which treatment plants can be monitored and optimised.
In June 2016 the AS of WWTP Harnaschpolder was analysed for the first time. The data generated was used to elucidate an number of specifics. For example, it was demonstrated that a significant number of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) that were present in the raw sewage were also found in the effluent. The results of this first screening were published in the Dutch water magazine “H2O” (attached, in Duth only).
Start of Research
September 2017
End of Research
August 2018
Researcher(s)
- Aleida de Vos van Steenwijk (Orvion)
- Frithjof Godschalk (Orvion)
- Orvion BV
- Delfluent Services BV
- Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland
- Evides Industriewater BV
de-Vos-2017-DNA-monitoring-H2O.pdf
Contact
Aleida de Vos van Steenwijk
[email protected]