Danger from Pathogens
A wastewater treatment plant is a reservoir for a wide variety of bacteria. Naturally, this also includes pathogenic, i.e. disease-causing, germs.
Microbiological Hazard Potential
In addition to various viruses and protozoa, wastewater can also contain bacteria that can cause diseases. These include legionella in particular, but also salmonella, campylobacter, clostridia and Escherichia coli.
Epidemiological Wastewater Monitoring
In contrast to the analysis and monitoring of pathogenic microorganisms, which can pose a direct risk of infection via wastewater, epidemiological wastewater monitoring aims to record infection dynamics in the population. As a rule, virus particles or their genetic fragments are detected, which themselves no longer pose a risk of infection, but serve as indicators for the spread of infectious agents. As part of the AMELAG project coordinated by the Federal Environment Agency, vermicon AG is using its microbiological expertise and innovative detection methods to help lay the foundations for comprehensive wastewater monitoring in Germany.
Practical Example: Legionella in Wastewater
With the VIT® gene probe technology, legionella can be specifically identified and quantified directly in the effluent of the wastewater treatment plant. Due to the high bacterial count, the detection of legionella in the effluent is not correct with conventional methods of legionella determination according to the TVO. In contrast, the VIT® gene probe technology does not require cultivation and can determine the number of legionella without distortion.
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