The effect of ultraviolet disinfection of the Kur’ianovskie Wastewater Treatment Facilities’ effluent on the Moskva River biocenosis

Summary

Ultraviolet irradiation of urban wastewater is nowadays one of the safest and cost effective disinfection technologies. Ultraviolet disinfection is a most efficient from the environmental point of view: no toxic by-products are formed in contrast to the traditional chlorination. Currently the biggest UV disinfection facilities have been operated in «Mosvodokanal» JSC: in September 2006 UV disinfection facilities with a capacity of 1 million m3/day were put into operation at the Liuberetskie Wastewater Treatment Facilities, and in December 2012 UV disinfection facilities with a capacity of 3 millions m3/day were put into operation at the Kur’ianovskie Wastewater Treatment Facilities. The results of analyzing phytoplankton, zooplankton and bacteriological communities in the receiving waters of the Kur’ianovskie Wastewater Treatment Facilities – the Moskva River before and after putting into operation the facilities for secondary effluent disinfection are presented in the paper. The comparison of biological characteristics of the water body with the river headwaters was carried out. Putting into operation the UV irradiation facilities provided for reducing bacteriological and virological water contamination. No changes in the plankton community structure were found. The river biocenosis keeps functioning inalterably. The use of UV disinfection technology ensures the epidemiological safety of the urban and rural population downstream the Moskva River.

Key words

wastewater , receiving water body , UV disinfection , biocenosis , bacteriological contamination , virological contamination , epidemiological contamination