Arctic Wastewater Treatment (A review)

Wastewater typically goes through a three or four stage treatment process, however most Arctic regions, some of the most pristine environments, have either inadequate or completely lacking wastewater treatment. Wastewater can contain anthropogenic pollutants such as oil, grease, pharmaceuticals and personal care products as well as pathogenic microorganisms and parasites and antibiotic resistant bacteria, which may have even more severe consequences due to the low diversity and temperatures found in the Arctic. Gunnarsdóttir et al. (2013) reviewed the problems of the current lack of wastewater treatment processes as well as suggesting solutions to go forward with.

Gunnarsdóttir et al. (2013) state that bacterial pathogens, including enteric bacteria and indigenous aquatic bacteria, viral pathogens and protozoan parasites are commonly found in wastewater and sewage. Relationships between inadequate sanitation and higher rates of respiratory tract, skin and gastrointentestinal tract infections have previously been demonstrated in both the Arctic and other regions, as well as outbreaks of bronchitis, impetigo, ear infections, meningitis and hepatitis A and B. One of the primary concerns is that the combination of bacterial pathogens and pharmaceuticals may lead to the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria, as well as a higher incidence of antibiotic resistance genes found in hospital sewage anyway. Due to limited sunlight in the Arctic winter these genes are more likely to persist in the environment than in lower latitudes. There have also been incidences of zoonotic pathogens, such as Salmonella, which could have severe consequences if there were to pick up antibiotic resistance genes. They suggest a number of standard sewage treatment processes, some modified for the freezing temperatures of the Arctic regions, as well as suggesting that freezing could potentially be used in the treatment of wastewater.

This review is particularly useful to give an introduction to sewage treatment processes and a general overview of the issues of improper or lacking sewage treatment and highlights the importance of sewage treatment processes. A further study could look at areas before and after the implementation of adequate wastewater and sewage treatment as a comparison of the bacteria and viruses present.

Gunnarsdóttir, R., Jenssen, P., Jensen, P., Villumsen, A. & Kallenborn, R. (2013) A review of wastewater handling in the Arctic with special reference to pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and microbial pollution. Ecological Engineering. 50, 76-85