Legionella occurrence in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants and risks of reclaimed wastewater reuse

Review

verfasst von

C. Caicedo, K. H. Rosenwinkel, M. Exner, W. Verstraete, R. Suchenwirth, P. Hartemann, R. Nogueira

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as confirmed but until today underestimated sources of Legionella, playing an important role in local and community cases and outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease. In general, aerobic biological systems provide an optimum environment for the growth of Legionella due to high organic nitrogen and oxygen concentrations, ideal temperatures and the presence of protozoa. However, few studies have investigated the occurrence of Legionella in WWTPs, and many questions in regards to the interacting factors that promote the proliferation and persistence of Legionella in these treatment systems are still unanswered. This critical review summarizes the current knowledge about Legionella in municipal and industrial WWTPs, the conditions that might support their growth, as well as control strategies that have been applied. Furthermore, an overview of current quantification methods, guidelines and health risks associated with Legionella in reclaimed wastewater is also discussed in depth. A better understanding of the conditions promoting the occurrence of Legionella in WWTPs will contribute to the development of improved wastewater treatment technologies and/or innovative mitigation approaches to minimize future Legionella outbreaks.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Siedlungswasserwirtschaft und Abfalltechnik

Externe Organisation(en)

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Universiteit Gent
Université de Lorraine (UL)
Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Soziales, Arbeit, Gesundheit und Gleichstellung

Typ

Übersichtsarbeit

Journal

Water research

Band

149

Seiten

21-34

Anzahl der Seiten

14

ISSN

0043-1354

Publikationsdatum

01.02.2019

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Environmental engineering, Tief- und Ingenieurbau, Ökologische Modellierung, Gewässerkunde und -technologie, Abfallwirtschaft und -entsorgung, Umweltverschmutzung

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 3 – Gute Gesundheit und Wohlergehen

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.10.080 (Zugang: Geschlossen)