Simulated pathogen survival in open canals under changing flow conditions in Singapore

SHOME, NANDINI; RAJAL, VERONICA BEATRIZ; CRUZ, MERCEDES CECILIA; WUERTZ, STEFAN

Singapore

Congreso; Singapore International Water Week 2018; 2018

We hypothesized that depending on the flow rate present in an aqueous system pathogens may become integrated into the benthic biofilm, which will affect their fate and persistence. Four flumes spiked with surrogates of bacterial and viral pathogens were operated at flow rates representing average annual flow and periods of no rainfall in Singapore?s canals. Using a mass balance approach, we showed that the fate of pathogens in an urban waterway requires a better understanding of biological processes such as growth, decay and detachment and cannot be predicted based on physicochemical processes alone. The flow rate in the flumes affected both biofilm properties and settling and detachment of surrogates. In conclusion, biofilms in waterways can act as reservoir of introduced pathogens long after their initial release. Factors affecting biofilm dynamics should be considered when designing urban waterways.