CALS Farm and Industry Short Course Program: Farm Microbiology: Lecture Outlines

SECTION 7.
Water and Wastewater Microbiology

Water and its Potential to be Contaminated.
1. Domestic use of water.
2. The water supply and the hydrologic cycle.
  
  The hydrologic cycle.
3. Types of water.
4. Definition of potable water.
5. Drinking water.
6. The problem of wastewater.
7. Water pollution.
  1. Sources of microorganisms in water.
  2. Intestinal disease organisms contaminating water.
  3. What about Legionnaire's disease?
  4. Eutrophication.
Protection and Purification of Water.
1. Protection of water supply against sewage pollution.
  1. Regulations concerning the location and construction of wells – the Wisconsin Well Code.
  2. Boiling.
  3. Chlorination.
  4. Sedimentation.
  5. Filtration.
  6. Ultraviolet irradiation.
  Effect of water purification on incidence of water-borne disease.
2. Tests for potability.
  1. Test for nitrate.
  2. Test for coliform bacteria.
    1. What are coliforms and why test for them?
    2. Procedure.
    3. Interpretation of results.
    4. Standards.
Waste Treatment.
1. Composition of domestic sewage.
2. Objectives of waste treatment.
  1. Destroy organic matter and reduce biological oxygen demand (BOD).
  2. Remove components of fertilizers and detergents such as phosphates and nitrates.
  3. Kill pathogens.
3. General methods.
  1. Disposal of untreated sewage (pollution).
    1. Dilution.
    2. Irrigation.
    3. Lagooning.
  2. Sewage treatment and disposal.
    1. Separation of solid and liquid (in general).
    2. Septic tank (anaerobic) plus aerobic drainage system.
      
      Septic tank installation.
    3. Large-scale operation.
      
      Steps in sewage treatment.
4. Manure disposal.
  1. National problem.
  2. Systems.
    1. Lagoons.
    2. Liquid tank (slotted floors).
    3. Anaerobic tank.
    4. Oxidation ditches.
    5. Stacking.
  3. Problems.