Biomedical subjects

R J Davies-Colley

Publications and source records attributed to R J Davies-Colley.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Virus removal in a pilot-scale 'advanced' pond system as indicated by somatic and F-RNA bacteriophages.

Advanced pond systems (APS), incorporating high-rate ponds, algal settling ponds, and maturation ponds, typically achieve better and more consistent disinfection as indicated by Escherichia coli than conventional waste stabilisation ponds. To see whether this superior disinfection extends also to enteric viruses, we studied the removal of somatic phages ('model' viruses) in a pilot-scale APS treating sewage. Measurements through the three aerobic stages of the APS showed fairly good removal of somatic phage in the summer months (2.2 log reduction), but much less effective removal in winter (0.45 log reduction), whereas E. coli was removed efficiently (> 4 logs) in both seasons. A very steep depth-gradient of sunlight inactivation of somatic phage in APS pond waters (confined in silica test tubes) is consistent with inactivation mainly by solar UVB wavelengths. Data for F-RNA phage suggests involvement of longer UV wavelengths. These findings imply that efficiency of virus removal in APS will vary seasonally with variation in solar UV radiation.

Disinfection↗

PubMed2005

Optical characteristics of waste stabilization ponds: recommendations for monitoring.

The optical character of waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) is of concern for several reasons. Algal photosynthesis, which produces oxygen for waste oxidation in WSPs, is influenced by attenuation of sunlight in ponds. Disinfection in WSPs is influenced by optical characteristics because solar UV exposure usually dominates inactivation. The optical nature of WSPs effluent also affects assimilation by receiving waters. Despite the importance of light behaviour in WSPs, few studies have been made of their optical characteristics. We discuss simple optical measures suitable for routine monitoring of WSPs (including at sites remote from laboratories): optical density of filtrates - an index of dissolved coloured organic (humic) matter, visual clarity - to provide an estimate of the beam attenuation coefficient (a fundamental quantity needed for optical modelling) colour (hue) - as an indicator of general WSP 'condition' and irradiance attenuation quantifying depth of light penetration. The value of optical characterisation of WSPs is illustrated with reference to optical data for WSPs in NZ (including high-rate algal ponds) treating dairy cattle wastewater versus domestic sewage. We encourage increased research on optical characteristics of WSPs and the incorporation of optical measures in monitoring and modelling of WSP performance.

Bioreactors↗

PubMed2004

Faecal bacteria yields in artificial flood events: quantifying in-stream stores.

Stream sediments have been recognised as an in-channel store of faecal contamination that can be mobilised during floods or other sediment-disturbing events. We studied this store of faecal contamination by creating artificial floods during dry weather when, in the absence of overland flow from the catchment, the only source of faecal bacteria was stores within the channel. Artificial floods, created by releasing water from a supply reservoir, increased the E. coli concentration in the water column by two orders of magnitude, from a background level of 10(2) cfu per 100 mL to over 10(4) cfu per 100 mL. The bacterial peak concentrations and yields declined systematically through a triplicate flood series. The size of the total in-channel store, calculated as the sum of yields of an infinite series of artificial floods, was approximately 10(8) cfu m(-2) of streambed area. Direct measurements of sediment E. coli found few sites (only those associated with cattle crossings) with areal concentrations as high as 10(8) cfu m(-2), consistent with flood yields. Concentrations of E. coli in the biofilms on exposed rocks were orders of magnitude lower, indicating that exposed rocks were not a source of E. coli released by the artificial floods.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Disinfection in a pilot-scale "advanced" pond system (APS) for domestic sewage treatment in New Zealand.

"Advanced" pond systems (APS) have the potential for improving treatment, including disinfection, over conventional WSPs. Disinfection in a pilot scale APS at Ngatea, New Zealand was studied. This system comprises a high-rate algal pond (HRP) that optimises growth of settleable colonial green algae, followed by an algal settling pond (ASP) that removes much of the nutrients and solids as non-noxious algal sludge, and then a maturation pond (MP) for effluent polishing. Monitoring of this pilot-scale system over 2 years showed excellent overall removal of E. coli (average of 2000-fold reduction), with approximately 1 log removal in each of the three stages. Experiments in the pilot scale HRP suggest that most E. coli removal in this stage is inactivation by sunlight exposure, but with an important contribution from continuous dark processes. Preliminary experiments on the pilot scale algal settling pond (APS) suggest the combined effect of sedimentation of bacteria and sunlight disinfection of the (clarified) supernatant water.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed2003

Combined photosynthesis and mechanical aeration for nitrification in dairy waste stabilisation ponds.

New Zealand has 16,500 dairy farms (avg. 220 cows), with cows kept on pasture throughout the year. During the 9-month dairy season, the cows are milked twice a day (averaging 2.5-3 h per day in the dairy parlour). Urine and faecal wastes deposited in the dairy parlour are washed away with high pressure hoses, using large volumes of water. A common method of treatment is in simple two-pond (anaerobic/facultative) lagoon systems, which remove about 95% of suspended solids and BOD5, but only 75% of total-N prior to discharge. High concentrations of ammoniacal-N in the effluent can cause toxicity to aquatic organisms in receiving waters. Mechanical aeration of the second (facultative) lagoon to promote nitrification improves effluent quality by reducing oxygen demand and potential ammonia toxicity to streamlife. Mechanical aeration however is associated with considerable mixing, which may prevent algae from optimising photosynthesis in the facultative lagoon. A series of experiments was undertaken which tested the efficiency of mechanical aeration and then attempted to combine it with daytime algal oxygen production in order to maximise ammonia conversion to nitrate, while minimising costs to the farmer. An experimental facility was developed by dividing a large facultative lagoon into two, producing a matched pair of lagoons, operated in parallel with influent flow split equally. Over successive dairy seasons, various aeration regimes were compared. Continuous aeration promoted nearly complete nitrification of the ammoniacal-N (99% removal), and effluent BOD was approximately halved. However the continuous mixing reduced algal biomass, and thus daytime algal photosynthesis. Night-only aeration permitted greater algal photosynthesis to occur, as well as halving electrical power consumption. Ammoniacal-N removal reduced to 90% (10 g m(-3) remaining in the effluent), while BOD removal was also lower than in the continuously aerated lagoon (59 and 69% respectively). Providing a series of biofilm attachment surfaces for nitrifying bacteria by suspending geotextile material close to the surface in the pond in consistently aerobic water resulted in improved ammoniacal-N removal efficiency (93%) with night aeration, but still lower removal than continuous aeration.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗

PubMed2003

Advanced pond system: performance with high rate ponds of different depths and areas.

Many domestic Wastewater Stabilisation Ponds (WSPs) or oxidation ponds in New Zealand require upgrading to reduce pollution of receiving waters. Advanced Pond Systems (APS) consisting of an Advanced Facultative Pond, High Rate Pond, Algae Settling Pond and Maturation Pond may provide a cost effective upgrade option. This paper presents the results of a 2-year study of the performance of two pilot APS systems with High Rate Ponds of different depths and areas. The HRPs of the APS systems both had the same flow rate (5 m3 d(-1)), volume (37.5 m3) and thus hydraulic retention time (7.5 d). However, the East HRP had an operating depth of 0.30 m and a surface area of 128 m2, and the West HRP had an operating depth of 0.45 m and a surface area of 85 m2. APS system performance was compared in terms of improvement of water quality. For nearly all parameters measured, there was little difference in performance between the two systems suggesting that the system with the smaller area could be used without affecting treatment. Comparison of final effluent with typical effluent of New Zealand WSPs showed that APS effluent was of higher quality and much less variable over time.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗

PubMed2003

Dairy farm wastewater treatment by an advanced pond system.

Waste stabilisation ponds (WSPs) have been used for the treatment of dairy farm wastewater in New Zealand since the 1970s. The conventional two pond WSP systems provide efficient removal of wastewater BOD5 and total suspended solids, but effluent concentrations of other pollutants including nutrients and faecal bacteria are now considered unsuitable for discharge to waterways. Advanced Pond Systems (APS) provide a potential solution. A pilot dairy farm APS consisting of an Anaerobic pond (the first pond of the conventional WSP system) followed by three ponds: a High Rate Pond (HRP), an Algae Settling Pond (ASP) and a Maturation Pond (which all replace the conventional WSP system facultative pond) was evaluated over a two year period. Performance was compared to that of the existing conventional dairy farm WSP system. APS system effluent quality was considerably higher than that of the conventional WSP system with respective median effluent concentrations of BOD5: 34 and 108 g m(-3), TSS: 64 and 220 g m(-3), NH4-N: 8 and 29 g m(-3), DRP: 13 and 17 g m(-3), and E. coli: 146 and 16195 MPN/100 ml. APS systems show great promise for upgrading conventional dairy farm WSPs in New Zealand.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗

PubMed2002

Faecal contamination over flood events in a pastoral agricultural stream in New Zealand.

Faecal bacterial dynamics during flood events were studied in the Topehaehae Stream near Morrinsville, New Zealand, in a catchment used for grazing dairy and beef cattle. During the rising limb of a natural flood event, E. coli bacterial concentration rose by more than 2 orders of magnitude and peaked at 41,000 cfu/100 mL. E. coli correlated closely with turbidity over the flood event, and both variables peaked close to the time of maximum flow acceleration rather than peak flow. An artificial flood on the same stream, created by releasing water from a supply reservoir during fine weather with no wash-in from the catchment, produced a broadly similar pattern of faecal contamination (peak E. coli = 12,500 cfu/100 mL). This and other evidence suggests that direct deposition of faecal matter by cattle in the stream channel may be of similar or greater importance than wash-in from land. The flood experiments have been useful for constructing a model of faecal bacterial yields, and they imply that exclusion of livestock from stream channels may appreciably improve water quality.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

A water quality index for contact recreation in New Zealand.

We surveyed the opinions of 16 water quality experts in order to develop a water quality index for contact recreation in freshwaters in New Zealand. The index was developed by postal surveys using the Delphi method, involving feedback of information to the panel members at each iteration. Determinands selected for use in the index were as follows: faecal bacterial indicators (faecal coliforms or E. coli), pH, Munsell colour, visual clarity indicators (black disc visibility or turbidity), and nutrients promoting nuisance growths (filtered BOD5, and dissolved forms of phosphorus and nitrogen). "Sub-index" curves relating suitability-for-use to these water quality determinands have been developed. The mean ("consensus") sub-index curves can be used to interpret water quality data in terms of suitability-for-use scores. We advocate using the lowest suitability-for-use score for a water as its overall index value for contact recreation. Thus the water body's suitability-for-use is determined by its "poorest" characteristic. The index is now ready to be tested by water managers for its utility in state-of-environment reporting.

Bacteria↗

PubMed2001

Forecasting rehabilitation outcomes for degraded New Zealand pastoral streams.

To understand the timescales and magnitude of responses that can be expected following catchment and riparian rehabilitation, we forecast changes to selected stream ecosystem attributes following tree planting in a pastoral catchment. All planting scenarios were predicted to lead to decreases in daily maximum water temperature after 15-20 years to levels that would be suitable for sensitive invertebrate species. Cooling and reheating were rapid so that most benefits to water temperature along the mainstem were forecast to accrue from shading all of the stream channel network. All planting scenarios were predicted to increase sediment yields over the status quo over the 25-year timeframe examined, with maximal sediment yield occurring about 15 years after planting due to expected erosion of the streambanks under the developing forest shade. Sediment yield was greatest for full catchment planting over 25 years, although sediment yield would be lowest with this scenario over longer timescales. A macroinvertebrate biotic index was predicted to increase by 25% over 15 years if whole catchment afforestation were implemented, compared to 9% if only the 4th order mainstem were planted with riparian trees. The use of ecological forecasting to predict likely outcomes for a range of scenarios should prove useful for prioritising rehabilitation actions.

Agriculture↗

PubMed1994

Inactivation of enterococci and fecal coliforms from sewage and meatworks effluents in seawater chambers.

Inactivation in sunlight of fecal coliforms (FC) and enterococci (Ent) from sewage and meatworks effluents was measured in 300-liter effluent-seawater mixtures (2% vol/vol) held in open-topped chambers. Dark inactivation rates (kDs) were measured (from log-linear survival curves) in enclosed chambers and 6-liter pots. The kD for FC was 2 to 4 times that for Ent, and inactivation was generally slower at lower temperatures. Sunlight inactivation was described in terms of shoulder size (n) and the slope (k) of the log-linear portion of the survival curve as a function of global solar insolation and UV-B fluence. The n values tended to be larger for Ent than for FC, and the k values for FC were around twice those for Ent in both effluent-seawater mixtures. The combined sunlight data showed a general inactivation rate (k) ranking in effluent-seawater mixtures of meatworks FC > sewage FC > meatworks Ent > sewage Ent. Describing 90% inactivation in terms of insolation (S90) gave far less seasonal variation than T90 (time-dependent) values. However, there were significant differences in inactivation rates between experiments, indicating the contribution to inactivation of factors other than insolation. Inactivation rates under different long-pass optical filters decreased with the increase in the spectral cutoff wavelength (lambda 50) of the filters and indicated little contribution by UV-B to total inactivation. Most inactivation appeared to be caused by two main regions of the solar spectrum--between 318 and 340 nm in the UV region and > 400 nm in the visible region.

Darkness↗

PubMed1994

Sunlight inactivation of enterococci and fecal coliforms in sewage effluent diluted in seawater.

Inactivation (loss of culturability) by sunlight of enterococci and fecal coliforms within sewage effluent diluted in seawater was investigated in field experiments. In most experiments, 500-ml flasks of pure silica were used to confine activated sludge effluent diluted to 2% (vol/vol) in seawater. Inactivation of bacteria in these flasks (diameter, 0.1 m) was faster than in either open chambers (depth, 0.25 m) or patches of dyed effluent (depth of order, 1 m), probably because of the longer light paths in the latter two types of experiment, which caused greater attenuation of sunlight. Inactivation of 90% of enterococci generally required 2.3 times the insolation required for 90% inactivation of fecal coliforms, because of both the presence of larger initial shoulders on survival curves and a lower final inactivation rate. Two parameters are required to model inactivation of enterococci, a shoulder constant as well as a rate coefficient. The depth dependence of inactivation rate for both fecal indicators matched the attenuation profile of UV-A radiation at about 360 nm. Inactivation by UV-B radiation (290 to 320 nm), which penetrates much less into seawater, is of minor importance compared with the UV-A and visible radiation in sunlight, contrary to expectations in consideration of published action spectra for bacterial inactivation.

Journal Article↗