Virus removal from treated wastewater in modified garden soil columns, Kuwait

A research study was conducted to determine the addition of garden soil to natural soil for removal of coliphage viruses from treated wastewater. Treated wastewater containing viruses was passed through soil columns filled with soil collected from Sulaibiya area, Kuwait. The four soil column experiments were under operation for eight months. The first and second soil columns filled with natural soil, while the third and fourth soil columns filled with modified soil consist of Sulaibiya soil mixed with 1% garden soil. All soil columns had soil depth of 0.1 m and with constant hydraulic head of 0.1 m above soil surface. For each experimental condition, two identical columns were set up, so that the reproducibility of the results can be evaluated, producing four columns. For all columns, the tests were conducted under alternating 1 d flooding and 1 d drying conditions. Influent and effluent water samples were collected and analysed following cycles of flooding periods. The coliphage virus counts in the treated wastewater ranged between 0 and 62,800 pfu/100 ml. The laboratory results revealed that coliphage removal for Sulaibiya soil ranged between 58% and 100% with average value of 88.4%, while their removal efficiency for modified columns was between 60% and 100% with average value of 92.3%. The presence of garden soil mixed with the soil relatively increased the coliphage removal from treated wastewater.