| Abstract: | The discharge of chlorinated wastewaters may result in acute toxicity to the aquatic ecosystem. This toxicity is due to chlorine residuals and to chlorinated organics formed during chlorination. An alternative method to chlorination for effluent disinfection is ultraviolet light irradiation. Kills of more than 99% have been obtained for coliform, fecal coliform, fecal streptococci and heterotrophic bacteria by irradiating secondary effluents from conventional activated sludge sewage treatment plants with ultraviolet light (254nm). Laboratory scale treatment studies of ultraviolet sterilization as a method of reducing the toxicity of municipal effluents and producing effluents of acceptable bacterial quality is reported. |
