THE STUDY OF SNAIL AND UV - C RADIATION TRANSMITTANCE ON NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION IN WASTEWATER: AN ASSESSMENT OF TERTIARY UV TREATMENT

Abstract

Snail infestations in wastewater treatment plants can significantly degrade effluent quality and system performance. This study investigated the effects of Physa acuta snail accumulation on UV disinfection systems. Snails were collected from a wastewater treatment plant and subjected to acute and chronic UV-C radiation. Control groups were maintained in dark conditions. Key water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen, BOD5, TSS, phosphorus, and nitrogen, were monitored in both UV-exposed and non-exposed treatments. Statistical analyses, including Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, log-rank tests, and ANOVA, were employed with 95% confidence to assess the impact of UV-C exposure on snail survival and water quality parameters. Results confirm that while UV-C exposure can reduce snail survival, especially through chronic exposure, snails exhibit resilience to both short-term (92.4% survivability) and long-term (49.2% survivability) UV-C radiation. Additionally, UV exposure did not significantly alter the rate of nutrient release from snails or their impact on nutrient cycling. However, both UV-exposed and non-exposed snails contributed to decreased dissolved oxygen concentrations when increasing initial nutrient levels were added to the wastewater. To mitigate the negative impacts of snail infestations and optimize wastewater treatment processes, a comprehensive approach is necessary, including minimizing nutrient loading, controlling snail populations, and optimizing UV disinfection processes. Future research should investigate the long-term effects of UV-C exposure on snail populations and their impact on water quality, as well as explore alternative disinfection techniques or integrated approaches to improve wastewater treatment efficiency.