Re-stabilisation processes after scraping of full-scale slow sand filters. Recovery of microbial biomass and purification performance after scraping of full-scale slow sand filters

In this study, we investigated the impact of scraping on the processes responsible for microbiological water quality, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and ammonium (NH4+) removal and the microbial community composition after scraping of full-scale slow sand filter (SSF). Scraping of the Schmutzdecke reduced biomass on sand in the top layers of the filter, while the main prokaryotic taxa in the sand bed remained unaltered.