Pilot-Scale Ozone Inactivation of Cryptosporidium and Other Microorganisms in Natural Water

A pilot-scale study was conducted to evaluate the inactivation by ozone against Cryptosporidium oocysts, Giardia cysts, poliovirus, and B. subtilis endospores spiked into Ohio River water. The indigenous Ohio River populations of total coliform bacteria, heterotrophic plate count bacteria and endospores of aerobic spore forming bacteria were also evaluated. Endospores were the only organisms found to be more resistant to ozone than Cryptosporidium oocysts. Endospores may serve as an indicator of microbial treatment efficiency. Cryptosporidium oocysts were more resistant than Giardia cysts or poliovirus. Although HPC bacteria were less resistant than Cryptosporidium oocysts, variability limits their usefulness as an indicator of treatment efficiency. Ozone inactivation data generated in a pilot-scale study employing natural surface waters were comparable to inactivation data derived from previously published bench-scale studies using laboratory waters. The ozone requirements for inactivation of Cryptosporidium oocysts may produce elevated levels of bromate and ozone byproducts.