Rapid Sand Filter, influent, effluent and backwash water 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing

Iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and ammonium (NH4+) removal from groundwater using rapid sand filtration is a widely employed method in drinking water production. Over time, Fe and Mn oxides accumulate in the filter, which necessitates frequent backwashing to avoid clogging. In this study, we investigated the impact of backwashing on the microbial community and filter chemistry in a dual media filter comprising anthracite and sand layers. Specifically, we focused on the removal of Fe, Mn, and NH4+ over the runtime of the filter. With increasing runtime, depth profiles of dissolved and particulate Fe revealed the buildup of Fe oxide flocs, causing Fe2+ and Mn2+ oxidation and nitrification to occur at greater depths within the filter. Towards the end of the filter runtime, breakthrough of suspended Fe oxides was observed, likely due to preferential flow. Backwashing effectively removed metal oxide flocs and restored the Fe removal efficiency in the top layer of the filter. Particles of the Fe coating were found in the backwash water, but this did not negatively affect the development of a mineral coating on the filter medium. While the two layers remained separate, the anthracite and sand layers themselves fully mixed during backwashing, leading to a homogenous distribution of the microbial community within each layer. Methyloglobulus and Gallionella were the predominant organisms in the anthracite layer, likely catalyzing methane and Fe2+ oxidation, respectively. The nitrifying community of the anthracite consisted of Nitrosomonas, Candidatus Nitrotoga, and Nitrospira. In contrast, the nitrifying community in the sand layer was dominated by Nitrospira. Backwashing minimally affected the microbial community composition of the filter medium except for Gallionella, which were preferentially washed out. In conclusion, our findings show that backwashing is necessary to maintain proper filter function, by reversing the negative effects of Fe floc accumulation on nitrification and manganese removal.