Interplay of Biologically Active Carbon Filtration and Chlorine-Based Disinfection in Mitigating the Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Water Reuse Distribution Systems

Appropriate management approaches are needed to minimize the proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in reclaimed water distribution systems (RWDSs). Six laboratory-scale RWDSs were operated over 3 years receiving influent with or without biologically active carbon (BAC) filtration + chl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2021-06, Vol.55 (12), p.8329-8340
Main Authors: Zhu, Ni Joyce, Ghosh, Sudeshna, Edwards, Marc A, Pruden, Amy
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activated carbon
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotics
Antiseptics
Biofilms
Biological activity
Chlorination
Chlorine
Disinfectants
Disinfection
Disinfection & disinfectants
Drug resistance
Filtration
Genes
Indicators
Metagenomics
Reclaimed water
Treatment and Resource Recovery
Water distribution
Water distribution systems
Water engineering
Water purification
Water reuse
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Summary:Appropriate management approaches are needed to minimize the proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in reclaimed water distribution systems (RWDSs). Six laboratory-scale RWDSs were operated over 3 years receiving influent with or without biologically active carbon (BAC) filtration + chlorination, chloramination, or no disinfectant residual. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was applied toward comprehensive characterization of resistomes, focusing on total ARGs, ARG mobility, and specific ARGs of clinical concern. ARGs such as aadA, bacA, bla OXA, mphE, msrE, sul1, and sul2 were found to be particularly sensitive to varying RWDS conditions. BAC filtration with chlorination most effectively achieved and maintained the lowest levels of nearly all metagenomically derived antibiotic resistance indicators. However, BAC filtration or addition of residual disinfectants alone tended to increase these indicators. Biofilm and sediment compartments harbored ARGs in disinfected systems, presenting a concern for their release to bulk water. Relative and absolute abundances of most ARGs tended to decrease with water age (up to 5 days), with notable exceptions in BAC-filtered chloraminated and no residual systems. Superchlorination of unfiltered water especially raised concerns in terms of elevation of clinically relevant and mobile ARGs. This study revealed that BAC filtration and disinfection must be carefully coordinated in order to effectively mitigate ARG dissemination via RWDSs.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/acs.est.1c01199