Activated sludge foaming: Can phage therapy provide a control strategy?

Abstract

Foaming in activated sludge systems is a global problem leading to environmental, cosmetic and operational problems. Proliferation of filamentous hydrophobic bacteria (including the Mycolata) are responsible for the stabilisation offoams. Currently no reliablemethods exist to control these. Reducing the levels of the filamentous bacteria with bacteriophages below the threshold supporting foaming is an attractive approach to control their impact. We have isolated 88 bacteriophages that target members of the foaming Mycolata. These double stranded DNA phages have been characterised and are currently being assessed for their performance as antifoam agents.