Understanding microbes could increase MBR efficiency, conference told

A thorough understanding of the physiology of micro-organisms found in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) used in advanced wastewater treatment and water reuse would greatly improve the overall efficiency of these systems, a conference in Singapore was told on 23 January 2009.

Harry Seah, director of the Technology & Water Quality Office of PUB, the Singapore water agency, said, “The application of life sciences and molecular microbiology to water treatment processes can potentially advance water safety and overall cost efficiency in Singapore’s water management”.

He was addressing the first Colloquium on Advanced Water Engineering with Micro-organisms. Jointly organised by Singapore’s national water agency PUB, the International Water Association and the International Society for Microbial Ecology, the event in Singapore saw over 40 renowned international experts explore ways to manipulate communities of micro-organisms to enhance processes in water applications.