Grant: Engage Grants Program

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are essential in limiting negative anthropogenic effects on the*environment by minimizing the release of nitrogen, phosphorus and bacteria. Large-scale WWTPs use a*combination of physical, chemical, and biological means to remove nutrients from wastewater. The biological*component of this process is completely dependent on the metabolism of microorganisms, which is*dramatically impacted by temperature. WWTPs are often built with certain components of the treatment*process outdoors, which leaves them exposed to seasonal fluctuations in temperature. In northern regions such*as the Canadian prairies where air temperatures can range from +30°C in the summer to frequent <-25°C in the*winter, treatment is dramatically impacted and nutrient removal efficiency plummets. WWTPs adapt to*fluctuating conditions by manipulating the oxygen input to favor certain microbes and by increasing the*duration of biological treatment, known as ""sludge age"". Though these adjustments are aimed at compensating*for the colder temperatures, they can lead to the proliferation of problematic protozoa and bacteria that disrupt*the treatment process. Currently, problems with biological nutrient removal (BNR) are diagnosed through*direct microscopy and occasionally through culture-dependent approaches. Though these methods are*undoubtedly useful, they can only provide a limited snapshot of the complexities of WWTP communities. To*better understand the microbial communities in Epcor's Regina WWTP, and the conditions that lead to*decreased operational efficiency of the biological nutrient removal process, two specific questions will be*addressed during this research project: i. How do the microbial communities change throughout the biological*treatment process and ii. How do these communities differ in warm and cold temperatures?