Norovirus, Hepatitis A and SARS-CoV-2 surveillance within Chilean rural wastewater treatment plants based on different biological treatment typologies

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater from WWTPs became an interesting source of epidemiological surveillance. However, there is uncertainty about the influence of treatment type on virus removal. The aim of this study was to assess viral surveillance within wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) based on different biological treatments. Seasonal monitoring (autumn-winter and spring-summer) was conducted in 10 Chilean rural WWTPs, which were based on activated sludge, aerated lagoons, bio-discs, constructed wetlands, vermifilters and mixed systems. Viruses were measured (influent/effluent) by the RT-qPCR technique, using a commercial kit for SARS-CoV-2, NoV GI, NoV GII, and HAV. The detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral variants by genotyping was performed using SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Assays (ThermoFisher Scientific, USA). JC polyomavirus detection (control), as well as a qPCR technique. Results showed that SARS-CoV-2, NoV GI and GII were detected in influents at values between <5 and 462, 0 to 28, and 0 to 75 GC/mL, respectively. HAV was not detected among the studied WWTPs. The monitored WWTPs removed these viruses at percentages between 0 and 100 %. WWTPs based on activated sludge with bio-discs demonstrated to be the most efficient at removing SARS-CoV-2 (up to 98 %) and NoV GI and GII (100 %). Meanwhile, bio-discs technologies were the least efficient for viral removal, due to biofilm detachment, which could also adsorb viral aggregates. A correlation analysis established that solids, pH, and temperature are the most influential parameters in viral removal. Wastewater-based surveillance at WWTP allowed for the detection of Omicron before the Chilean health authorities notified its presence in the population. In addition, surveillance of viruses and other microorganisms could help assess the potential public health risk of wastewater recycling.

Keywords: Biological treatment; Enteric viruses; Physicochemical parameters; SARS-CoV-2; Wastewater rural domestic.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1

Geographic locations of the WWTPs monitored. AS: Activated sludge, AL: Aerated Lagoon, BD: Bio-disc, CW: Constructed Wetland, VF: Vermifilter, AS-BD: Activated sludge/Bio-disc.

Fig. 2

Quantification and detection of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants from rural domestic wastewater influent. A) Autumn-winter. B) Spring-summer. Active cases: corresponds to the population number infected with SARS-CoV-2 within each location, where WWTPs are located (MINSAL). % Population: corresponds to the percentage of the supplied population from studied WWTPs with respect to the total location population. Lockdown: period imposed by the health authorities, where the movement of inhabitants was restricted to essential activities. AS: Activated sludge, AL: Aerated Lagoon, BD: Bio-disc, CW: Constructed Wetland, VF: Vermifilter, AS-BD: Activated sludge/Bio-disc.

Fig. 3

Variate plot based on the principal component analysis of SARS-CoV-2, NoV GI and NoG GII, with respect to physicochemical parameters from rural domestic wastewater (n = 40). A) SARS-CoV-2 influent; B) SARS-CoV-2 effluent; C) NoV GI influent; D) NoV GI effluent; E) NoV GII influent; F) NoV GII effluent. Ammonium (NH₄⁺-N); Nitrate (NO₃⁻-N); Nitrite (NO₂⁻); Phosphate (PO₄³⁻); Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD₅), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS), pH, temperature (°C), and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS).