UC Berkeley

Water reuse is a viable strategy to sustainably manage urban water resources. A clear understanding of the benefits and shortcomings of sophisticated treatment technologies is desirable in order to efficiently benefit from water reuse. A membrane bioreactor (MBR) is a wastewater treatment technology utilizing a membrane barrier. MBRs produce high quality effluent, although removal of viruses through the system has not been thoroughly characterized. There is a need to understand the physical mechanisms of virus removal in order to predict performance of MBRs to ensure consumer safety under water reuse scenarios. This dissertation outlines plausible mechanisms to explain virus removal within MBRs. Results of investigations at both the full-scale, as well as under more controlled laboratory conditions, are described. Additionally, the risk to consumers of potable water reuse is assessed for a range of treatment scenarios, comparing MBRs alongside other technologies, to provide a framework for decision-making. Through a better mechanistic understanding, we can determine the operational parameters and treatment train designs needed for reliable pathogen removal to protect the consumer, and expand potable water reuse.