TAS 3101 : WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY

CHAPTER 2 :

Environmental
Microbiology
CHAPTER 3:
Environmental Microbiology

© SHAHRUL ISMAIL, DESc.

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT University College of Science and Technology Malaysia
Menu

1) Definition
2) Microbial Interests
3) Microbiological Contaminants
4) Microorganism in environmental
engineering
5) Bacterial Growth and Phases

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

Introduction

Environmental Microbiology

“The study of microbes associated with

Water, drinking water, and
wastewater (and other organic and
inorganic wastes) as well as
Pollutant Degradation”

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

Introduction

What is microbes??

“Tiny creatures that individually are single cell

organism, too small to be seen with the
unaided eye”

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

The Interfaces…..

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

Microbial Interests

• Microbial roles of interest:

– disease production
– degradation of materials
– production of harmful
substances and/or
conditions

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

 Pathogens in Drinking Water

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

 Pathogens in Surface Water

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

 Pathogens in Surface Water

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

 Pathogens in Surface Water

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

 Introduction
- Microorganisms that play an
important rule in environmental
engineering :

• Bacteria
• Viruses
• Fungi
• Algae
• Protozoa

- The important of these

organisms:
- Causes diseases towards
humans
- Decomposition of organic
and inorganic

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

Bacteria
• Small organisms - size
between 0.5 – 5.0 m

• Present individually - pairs

or in chain

• Different kind of shape : rod

(bacillus), spiral and sphere

• Double themselves within 15

– 30 minute in suitable
condition

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

 Classification of bacteria

According to the utilization of dissolved

oxygen :
• Aerobic : Use DO during decomposition of
organic compound
• Anaerobic : Using O2 in the form of
different compound
• Facultative: Able to survive in both of the
above condition

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

 Disease caused by bacteria

• Typhoid fever :Salmonelly

Caused?? typhi

Vibrio cholerae
• Cholera : Caused ??

• Jaundice fever :Leptospira

Caused??

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT
Viruses

• Smallest microorganism – size

range from 0.01 – 0.3 m
• Required host for survival
• Cause diseases such as
hepatitis, flu, jaundice, polio
and aids

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

Fungi
• Plants that unable to do
photosynthesis such as
moulds and yeast

• Yeast – used for fermentation

– making bread, cake and
alcohol

• Moulds – filament
– live in acidic condition
– reduce the efficiency of
secondary sedimentation
tank
– cause unpleasant smell
and taste

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT
Algae
• Plant that generate energy
by photosynthesis
• Increase the DO level in the
Present of sun light-Ph
water. When??
• What if too much algae??
- Tas te a nd sm el
- Ligh t pe netra tion
- Die off – disin tegra te and caus ed an aero bic co ndit ion

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT
Protozoa

• Unicell organism – size 10 – 100 m

• Use bacteria and algae as source of food

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

Protozoa
• Could cause disease related to stomach and
gastro intestine
– e.g.: cryptosporidium : cryptosporidiosis (diarrhea)
• giardis lamblia : giardiasis (diarrhea)

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT
 Bacterial Growth

• Generally they
reproduce binary
fission (i.e. by
dividing, the original
cell becomes two new
organisms)

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

Phases of Bacteria

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

Lag Phase :

• The time required for the organism to acclimate to

their new environment and begins to divide.

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

 Log / exponential growth phase :

• The presence of access substrate promotes the maximum rate of growth

possible, limited only by the ability of the bacteria to reproduce.

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

Stationary Phase :
• Population remains stationary. Reasons for this phenomenon:
– Cell have exhausted the substrate all nutrients necessary
for growth.
– Growth of the new cells is offset by the death of whole cells.

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT

 Death endogenous phase:
• Bacteria
death rate
exceeds the
production of
new cell.

• Depletion of nutrient/food and toxic by-

products of cell metabolism inhibit further
growth.
Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT
Microbial Perspectives

“Acquire nutrients, produce

energy, biosynthesize, grow,
reproduce, respond to
environment, interact,
develop, differentiate, evolve,
die”

Izan Jaafar, Engineering Science, FST, UMT