BIOLOGY

• BACTERIA and PROTOZOA are

the major groups of
microorganisms “LIVING”
system that is used in
secondary treatment of
wastewaters.
 BACTERIA AND FUNGI

• Most bacteria are only visible with

the strongest lenses of the
microscope.
• BACTERIA range in size from
approximately .5 to 5µm
• BACTERIA are capable of self-
reproduction without sunlight.
• Bacterial reproduction is by BINARY
FISSION in which a cell divides into
two new cells. It occurs 15-30 min.
• The first word is GENUS, the second
is the species name.
• A wide variety of bacteria are found
in domestic wastewater..
• The majority of which appear to be
of the genera ALCALIGENES,
FLAVOBACTERIUM, BACILLUS, and
PSEUDOMONAS.
• Sphaerotilus natans
where the cells grow
protected in a long
sheath.
• The most frequently referred
to bacterium in sanitary work
is Escherichia Coli, a common
COLIFORM used as an
indicator of the bacteriological
quality of water.
• Bacteria are classified into TWO
MAJOR GROUPS as
HETEROTROPHIC or
AUTOTROPHIC depending on
their source of nutrients.
• HETEROTROPHS – reffered as
SAPROPHYTES. Use organic
matters as both an energy and a
carbon source for synthesis.
Divided into 3 groups depending on their
action toward free oxygen
1. AEROBES – require free dissolved oxygen
in decomposing organic matter.
2. ANAEROBES – oxidize organics in the
complete absence of dissolved oxygen by
using oxygen bound in other compounds.
3. FACULTIVE BACTERIA – compose of group
that uses free dissolved oxygen when
available but that can be also live in its
absence by gaining energy from anaerobic
reaction.
• AUTOTROPHIC – oxidize
inorganic compounds for
energy and use carbon dioxide
as a carbon source.
• FUNGI – refer to microscopic
non-photosynthetic plants
including YEASTS and MOLDS
• MOLDS – filamentous fungi that
are resemble higher plants in
structure with branched,
threadlike growths.
• The primary waterbone pathogenic
bacteria include Salmonella, Vibro
Chlorae and Shigella.
–The forms of SALMONELLOSIS in
humans are gastroenteritis, enteric
fever and septicimia.
–SHIGELLA cause acute gastroenteritis.
 PROTOZOA AND MULTICELLULAR
ANIMALS
• PROTOZOA are aerobic organisms found in
activated sludge, trickling filters and oxidation
ponds treating wastewater, as well as in
natural waters.
– Flagellated are the smallest type, ranging in size
from 10 to 50 µm.
– Amoebas move and take in food through the
action of a mobile protoplasm.
• Free-swimming protozoa are used for
propulsion and gathering in organic matter.
Their size is 50 to 300 µm.
• Giardia Lamblia and Cryptosporidium Parvum
are parasitic protozoa.
• Entamoeba Histolytica causes amoebic
dysentery by the fecal-oral route.
• Rotifers are simple, multicelled, aerobic
animals that metabolizes food.
• Microcrustaceans are multicellular animals,
ypically 2 mm in size.
 VIRUS
• Virus are obligate, intracellular
parasites that replicate only in living
hosts’ cells.
• Most viruses of interest in sanitary
technology are 20-100 nanometers.
 Life Cycle of a Virus
1. Adsorption
2. Entry
3. Invade
4. Replication
5. Assembly
6. Release
 ALGAE
• They are neither plant, animal or fungi.
• Algae releases oxygen into the water as it
manufactures it food.
• In manufacturing food, algae release oxygen,
increasing the amount dissolved in the water.
• Algae are found in all the fresh waters of the
world!
 Major Algae Groups

• Blue-green algae are the slimy stuff. Its cells

lack nuclei and its pigment is scattered. Blue-
green algae are not actually algae, they are
bacteria.
• Green algae cells have nuclei and the
pigment is distinct. Green algae are the most
common algae in ponds and can be
multicellular.
• Euglenoids are green or
brown and swim with
their flagellum, too.
They are easy to spot
because of their red
eye. Euglenoids are
microscopic and single
celled.
• Dinoflagellates have
a flagella and can
swim in open
waters. They are
microscopic and
single celled.
• Diatoms look like two
shells that fit
together. They are
microscopic and
single celled.