Ammonia-oxidizing microbes and biological ammonia removal in drinking water treatment

Abstract

Ammonia, a common inorganic pollutant in drinking water sources, can lead to formation of disinfection byproducts during chlorination and bacteria regrowth in water distribution systems. Biological ammonia removal in biofilters is being increasingly applied as it is an economical and environment-friendly process as well as reducing the health risk. Recently, considerable studies have been reported to elucidate the performance of biofilters and microbes involved in ammonia removal in drinking water treatment. From the perspective of microbes, this review summarizes the presence of different ammonia-oxidizing microbes (AOM) and the effect of environmental parameters on the performance and AOM in drinking water biofilters at the process level and the influent-stream level. The potential response of different AOM to environmental parameters has been revealed through the summary of recent advances on changes of the AOM community, abundance, and activity. Future studies that reveal the effects of environmental parameters on metabolisms of different AOM and the maintenance of biological ammonia removal stability under different conditions are needed.