Pergamon 0273-1223(9.5)00242-1 WOl. Sci. Tech. Vol. 31. No. S-6. pp. 634>8. 1995. Copyright 0 1995 lAwQ Printed iD areat Britain. All righta reserved. 0273-1223I9S S9·S0 + 0-00 MTJ,ofIf-I REMOVAL OF HEPATITIS A VIRUS (HAV), POLIOVIRUS AND MS2 COLIPHAGE BY COAGULATION AND HIGH RATE FILTRATION A. Nasser, D. Weinberg, N. Dinoor. B. Fattal and A. Adin Division of Environmental Sciences. School ofApplied Sciences. The Hebrew University. Jerusalem 91904. Israel ABSTRACT Filtration is considered a mandatory operation unit for the production of pathogen free drinking water CroIII surface sources. This study was undertaken to determine the removal effICiency of enteric pathogenic viruses (bepatitis A virus and poliovirus) by high rate filtration and to determine the suilability of F+bacteriophages as index for the removal or these pathogens. A jar leSt was used to determine the optimal flocculation dose to be used in the high rate fIltration experiments. At an alum concentration of 30 mgll. the greatest reduction was observed for HAV (88.4%) as compared with poliovirus I (47%) and turbidity (61%). Addition of I mg/1 cationic polyelectrolyte improved the reduction of HAV to 98.3% by flocculation. while the removal of polio I and turbidity was DOl improved. The presence of humic acid at a concentration of 15.3 mg/1 interfered with flocculation performance of HAV and turbidity, while the addition of the cationic polyelectrolyte reduced the interference appreciably. High rate filtration (20 mIhr) using a 100 em long sand column. resulted in reduction of 99%. 93% and 80% of twbidity • MS2 and poliovirus I. respectively. Addition of polyelectrolyte enhanced the removal of viruses and turbidity. In the presence of humic acid no virus removal was observed by high rate ftluatioo. whereas turbidity removal was unaffected. The removal of MS2 was similar to that of HAV rather than poliovirus I. High rate filtration was found efficient for the removal of pathogenic viruses and turbidity from surface water. Under all conditions tested the removal of turbidity was greater than that of viruses. KEYWORDS High rate flltration; flocculation; polyelectrolytes; Hepatitis A virus; MS2 bacteriophage; poliovirus I; turbidity; surface waters. INTRODUCfION The presence of pathogenic microorganisms in drinking water may result in contracting an infectious disease. In the 1971-85 period. 123 waterborne outbreaks were attributed to contaminated. untreated surface water (Craun. 1988). Protection of water sources from discharges of human wastes. filtration of surface water and disinfection can minimize outbreak. .. of waterborne disease. Filtration of surface water results in the reduction of turbidity and pathogenic agents (AI Ani et al.• 1986). Filtration is particularly important for 63