Use of bacteriophages as a model for assay on removal of stormwater viral pollution in constructed wetland and detention pond systems

摘要

Little information is available on the ability of wetlands and ponds to remove disease-causing viruses from stormwater. In this research we studied the potential off-specific RNA bacteriophages (fRNA) for assessing two stormwater treatment systems for the removal of viruses. Concentrations of fRNA bacteriophages were determined in inflow and outflow samples collected from each system over a 5-month period (20 samples). The bacteriophages were detected in 6 of the wetland inlet samples, 8 of the pond inlet samples and 5 of the pond outlet samples but were never present at the wetland outlet. This research shows the Virus removal in constructed wetland was more effective than the detention pond system. Inflow concentrations of fRNA bacteriophages ranged from 0 to 66 pfu per 100 ml. These results suggest that the conditions provided by the treatment systems are conducive to removal of bacteriophages and perhaps enteric viruses from stormwater. Removal is likely to be by attachment of the bacteriophages to particles that settle out.