The overall hypothesis of this work is that the physiological microbial stress response could serve as a rapid, sensitive, and mechanistically-based indicator of process upset in biological wastewater treatment systems that receive sporadic shock loads of toxic chemicals. The microbial stress response is a set of conserved and unique biochemical mechanisms that an organism activates or induces under adverse conditions, specifically for the protection of cellular components or the repair of damaged macromolecules. Using traditional immunochemical analysis techniques, the heat shock protein, GroEL, was found to be induced in activated sludge cultures exposed to perturbations of chemicals at all concentrations tested (cadmium, pentachlorophenol, and acetone) or heat stress. As total cadmium concentrations increased above 5 mg/L, there was a significant and consistent increase in effluent volatile suspended solids concentrations from activated sludge sequencing batch reactors relative to unstressed controls, but there was no additional increase in GroEL levels. Stress proteins may serve as sensitive and rapid indicators of mixed liquor toxicity which can adversely impact treatment process performance, but GroEL may not be a good candidate protein for this purpose due to the lack of a dose/response relationship. Additionally, production of stress proteins did not explain the significant deflocculation upsets that were characteristic of many of the industrially-relevant chemicals tested, including pentachlorophenol and cadmium. Although the purpose of stress response mechanisms is protective at the cellular level, the effect may be disruptive at the macroscopic level in engineered bioreactor systems. The goal of the second research phase was to determine whether the bacterial glutathione-gated, electrophile-induced potassium efflux system is responsible for deflocculation observed due to shock loads of toxic electrophilic (thiol reactive) chemicals. The results indicate significant K+ efflux from the activated sludge floc structure to the bulk liquid in response to shock loads of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), and Cd2+ to a bench-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system. In most cases, the stressor chemicals caused significant deflocculation, as measured by an increase in effluent volatile suspended solids (VSS), at concentrations much less than that required to reduce the maximum specific oxygen uptake rate by 50% (IC50). This suggests that electrophile-induced activated sludge deflocculation is caused by a protective bacterial stress mechanism (as hypothesized) and that the upset event may not be detectable by aerobic respirometry. More importantly, the amount of K+ efflux appeared to correlate well with the degree of deflocculation. The transport of other cations including sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum, either to or from the floc structure, was negligible as compared to K+ efflux. In bench-scale SBRs, it was also determined that the K+ efflux occurred immediately (within minutes) after toxin addition and then was followed by an increase in effluent turbidity. K+ efflux and deflocculation responses were similar for bench-scale SBRs and continuous-flow reactor systems, indicating that the periods of elevated exogenous substrate levels typical in SBR systems are not required to activate electrophile-induced K+ efflux or deflocculation. This also suggests that the initial and rapid efflux of K+ immediately following electrophile addition is the factor that leads to deflocculation, not the increase in bulk liquid K+. Sphingomonas capsulata, a bacterium consistent with that found in biological wastewater treatment systems, Escherichia coli K-12, and activated sludge cultures exhibited very similar dynamic efflux/uptake/efflux responses due to the electrophilic stressors, NEM and CDNB, and the thiol reducing agent, dithiothreitol (DTT). The polyether ionophore antibiotic, nigericin, was used to artificially stimulate K+ efflux from S. capsulata and activated sludge cultures. Thus, glutathione-gated K+ efflux (GGKE) activity may cause K+ release from the cytoplasm of activated sludge bacteria into the floc structure and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and then diffusion-limited transport into the bulk liquid. It was not possible to resolve the effect of the GGKE system on changes in bulk liquid or floc-associated pH. However, calculations indicate that the localized K+ concentration within the floc structure immediately after chemical stress is consistent with that known to induce floc disruption as a result of KCl addition. Using alkaline phosphatase as a periplasmic marker as well as fluorescent membrane-permeable and impermeable nucleic acid stains, it was determined that a negligible amount of the K+ efflux response was due to lysis of activated sludge microorganisms. The current results are very promising and are the first to suggest that activated sludge upset (i.e. deflocculation) may be caused by a specific protective stress response in bacteria. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this research was to uncover factors responsible for the prolific growth of various filamentous microorganisms in the bulking activated sludge at the Hoechst Celanese wastewater treatment plant. First, futile attempts were made to isolate the filamentous bacterium, <i>Nostocoida limicola II</i>, from activated sludge for purposes of its characterization. Chemostat and batch experiments were also performed in an effort to determine conditions favoring its growth, but the filament’s growth could not be sustained in any of the conditions provided. Second, several CSTRs were operated in which single cationic concentrations were varied to try to isolate the actual effects of the different cations on activated sludge microorganisms. Though the objectives of these CSTR experiments were not accomplished because bulking conditions could not be maintained in the reactors, insight was gained as to possible factors significantly impacting filamentous growth. A full-scale study followed, in which microbial population shifts in the activated sludge at the Hoechst Celanese wastewater treatment plant were tracked with changes in the operating conditions at the plant. The results of this study suggested the existence of relationships between the abundances of certain filaments and DO concentration and/or F/M ratio in the activated sludge environment. To isolate the individual effects of these two factors on activated sludge microorganisms, two modified batch studies were performed. The results of these studies indicated that the growth of most of the filaments present in the Hoechst Celanese activated sludge is primarily affected by F/M ratio, though DO concentration strongly impacts the growth of some. The findings in the DO and F/M experiments were combined with the findings in the full-scale study to estimate DO concentration and/or F/M ratio ranges in which growth of the following activated sludge filamentous organisms may be favored: <i>Haliscomenobacter hydrossis</i>, <i>Microthrix parvicella</i>, <i>Nocardia species</i>, <i>Nostocoida limicola II</i>, and Types 0041, 0581, 1851, and 1863. / Master of Science

This research was prompted by a field study performed at the Celanese Corporation Wastewater Treatment Plant, Narrows, VA., in which calcium chloride addition had improved sludge characteristics that were believed to have deteriorated because of sodium hydroxide additions for pH control. Research objectives were to determine whether the observed improvements during the full-scale plant study were caused by the addition of divalent cations and whether the deterioration of the sludge was due to sodium ion additions. Bench-scale, activated sludge reactors were fed wastewater from the Celanese plant to model plant conditions. Sodium was added in an attempt to cause deterioration of the sludge characteristics. Magnesium and calcium were used as divalent cations to try to improve the sludge characteristics. Results of the study indicated that the magnitude of the effects seen in the full-scale plant study could not be reproduced in the laboratory. Magnesium produced little or no effect on the system and calcium improved the sludge characteristics slightly. Sodium caused deterioration of the sludge but not as dramatically as the full-scale study. This suggested that sodium alone did not adversely affect the sludge but rather, sodium hydroxide might have been combined with organics in the waste which then affected the system. / Master of Science

This research was designed to investigate the effect of cations on activated sludge characteristics and also to determine their influence on digestion performance. For this purpose, cations in solution and in floc were evaluated along with various activated sludge characteristics and the collected waste activated sludge underwent both anaerobic and aerobic digestion. It was found that large amounts of biopolymer (protein + polysaccharide) remained in the effluent of WWTP that received high influent sodium but had low iron and aluminum in floc. However, sludges from plants with high sodium and high iron and aluminum dewatered well and produced high quality effluents, suggesting that iron and aluminum have significant positive effects on floc properties. Following anaerobic digestion, a significant increase in solution protein occurred and correlations between solution protein, ammonium production, percentile volatile solids reduction and iron in floc were obtained. These data indicate that iron-linked protein is released to solution when iron is reduced and its degradation is responsible for volatile solids reduction in anaerobic digestion. In aerobic digestion, polysaccharide in solution increased along with calcium, magnesium and inorganic nitrogen. This implies that divalent cation-bound biopolymer might be the primary organic fraction that is degraded under aerobic digestion. Combined (anaerobic/aerobic) digestion was performed and produced further volatile solids destruction with discrete cation and biopolymer response during each phase of digestion. These results support the theory that two types of organic matter with different cation bindings are present in floc and each type is degraded under different digestion processes. / Master of Science

Thesis (M.Tech.: Biotechnology)-Dept. of Biotechnolgy, Durban University of Technology, 2007 xviii, 143 leaves / Activated sludge flocs are responsible for flocculation, settling and dewaterability. It is important to maintain the growth off loc-forming bacteria for efficient sludge settleability and compaction for good quality effluent. Filamentous bacteria on the other hand are believed to provide rigid support network or backbone upon which floc-forming bacteria adhere to form stable activated sludge flocs (Wilderer et al., 2002; Ramothokang et al., 2003). Filamentous bacteria can also be detrimental to the process when they outgrow floc-forming bacteria. Morphologically filamentous bacteria are at an advantage as they have higher outward growth velocity and can extend freely to bulk liquid substrate. Proliferation of filamentous bacteria causes foaming and bulking (Martins et al., 2004). Although chemical alleviation measures to circumvent bulking are present, they are symptomatic (Chang et al., 2004). Eikelboom (1975) developed the first identification keys for the classification of filamentous bacteria that is primarily based on morphological characteristics and microscopic examination. Although very useful, this type of identification has its limitations. For instance some filamentous bacteria can change morphology in response to changes in the environment and although some of them can be morphologically similar they may vary considerably in their physiology and taxonomy (Martins et al., 2004). A vast number of filamentous bacteria are still very poorly understood which could be due to the problems of cultivation due to their slow growing nature and maintenance of cultures (Rossetti et al., 2006). This limitation necessitates a molecular approach to resolve the taxonomy of filamentous bacteria as it is a culture-independent technique which is highly accurate. This project was undertaken to verify the identity of pure cultures of filamentous bacteria isolated previously through the application of molecular techniques. The 16S rDNA are conserved regions in bacterial cells and they can be extracted and specific nucleic acid fragments amplified. Denaturation gradient gel electrophoresis enabled the separation of fragments of identical length but different size and served as an indication of purity (Muyzer et al., 1993).

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment with the requirements for the Masters Degree: Biotechnology, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Untreated vegetable oil effluents (VOEs) are known for creating shock-loading problems for the receiving wastewater treatment installations, resulting in poor quality final effluents being produced which do not satisfy municipal discharge standards. Onsite activated sludge treatment as an alternative has not been fully investigated. Hence, in this investigation biological treatment using the activated sludge process was chosen as the method for the treatment of VOE. The effect of VOE on measured process parameters was also determined. Novel molecular techniques such as fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) and dot-blot hybridization have become powerful tools for the analysis of complex microbial communities that exist within activated sludge. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate biological treatment, optimize and apply FISH and dot-blot hybridization in order to analyze the microbial community implicated the biological treatment of VOE using probes EUBmix, ALF1b, BET42a, GAM42a and HGC69a. A laboratory-scale modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) process setup and fed VOE with a COD (chemical oxygen demand) of ± 1000 mg/L. Daily monitoring of the process involved COD and TKN (total kjeldahl nitrogen) analysis of the influent and effluent as well as direct OUR (oxygen utilization rate) measurement and monitoring of the MLVSS (mixed liquor volatile suspended solids) concentration of the aerobic mixed liquor. The process exhibited overall COD and TKN removal capacities of 84% and 90% respectively. The aerobic mixed liquor had an OUR of 19 mgO/L.h and an average MLVSS concentration of 3000 mg/L. FISH results revealed that 72% of cells stained with 4‟, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) within the aerobic mixed liquor bound to probe EUBmix, indicating a substantial Bacterial population within the laboratory-scale biological process. The alpha-Proteobacteria was identified as the dominant bacterial community comprising 31% of Bacterial cells, followed by the beta-Proteobacteria (17% of EUBmix), gamma-Proteobacteria (8% of EUBmix) and Actinobacteria (4% of EUBmix). Results of dot-blot hybridization were in agreement with FISH Adrian Phillip Degenaar| CHAPTER 1: General Introduction - v - results reiterating dominance of the alpha-Proteobacteria. This indicated that the class alpha-Proteobacteria could play a primary role in the biological degradation of VOE. This research will therefore aid in process design and retrofitting of biological processes treating VOE.

Over the last two decades, implementation of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) has increased due to their superior effluent quality and low plant footprint. However, they are still viewed as a high-cost option, both with regards to capital and operating expenditure (capex and opex). The present thesis extends the understanding of the impact of design and operational parameters of membrane bioreactors on energy demand, and ultimately whole life cost. A simple heuristic aeration model based on a general algorithm for flux vs. aeration shows the benefits of adjusting the membrane aeration intensity to the hydraulic load. It is experimentally demonstrated that a lower aeration demand is required for sustainable operation when comparing 10:30 to continuous aeration, with associated energy savings of up to 75%, without being penalised in terms of the fouling rate. The applicability of activated sludge modelling (ASM) to MBRs is verified on a community-scale MBR, resulting in accurate predictions of the dynamic nutrient profile. Lastly, a methodology is proposed to optimise the energy consumption by linking the biological model with empirical correlations for energy demand, taking into account of the impact of high MLSS concentrations on oxygen transfer. The determining factors for costing of MBRs differ significantly depending on the size of the plant. Operational cost reduction in small MBRs relies on process robustness with minimal manual intervention to suppress labour costs, while energy consumption, mainly for aeration, is the major contributor to opex for a large MBR. A cost sensitivity analysis shows that other main factors influencing the cost of a large MBR, both in terms of capex and opex, are membrane costs and replacement interval, future trends in energy prices, sustainable flux, and the average plant utilisation which depends on the amount of contingency built in to cope with changes in the feed flow.

<p>This master thesis in energy optimization was made during the autumn of 2006 at Käppala wastewater treatment plant in Lidingö, Stockholm. A preceding thesis, where all electricity consumption was mapped, showed that the aeration in the biological treatment is the single largest consumer in the plant, and it is therefore of interest to reduce this cost. The oxygen control strategy used at Käppala WWTP is working well from a nutrient removal point of view, but not from an economic one. The last aerobic zones have a very low oxygen consumption during low loading periods which give rise to enhanced dissolved oxygen concentrations with excessive costs and reduced denitrification as a result. But also during periods of normal loading unnecessary high oxygen concentration are sometimes given.</p><p>By modifying the aeration control strategy three full-scale experiments have been made, with the intention to reduce the air consumption. The experiments were carried out during week 37-50 in the autumn of 2006 and showed that savings could be made.</p><p>The regular oxygen control at Käppala WWTP controls the oxygen level in the aerobic compartment with two DO-setpoints; one in the first aerobic zone and one in the last. The zones in between are controlled by an airflow fractionation depending on the oxygen level in the first and last zone. In the first strategy to be evaluated, all four zones in the aerated part were individually controlled with its own setpoint. Two different setpoint combinations were tested. By using the fact that the efficiency in the oxygen transfer rate was higher at low airflows, savings of approximately 16 % were achieved. In the second strategy tested, an ammonia-feedback control combined with a DO-feedback controlled the DO-set point in the first aerobic zone. This strategy adjusted the DO- set points to the loading variations, and this gave a decreased airflow of approximately 9 %. Finally the two strategies were combined. All zones were then controlled individually with DO-set points set by an ammonium-feedback and a DO-feedback. The strategy gave savings in the airflow of approximately 18 %. In all three trials the aerated zones were more efficiently used, and the estimated savings are 550 000 SEK/year, and with a preserved nutrient removal efficiency.</p> / <p>Under hösten 2006 har ett examensarbete om energieffektivisering på Käppalaverket på Lidingö utförts. Ett föregående examensarbete där all elenergiförbrukning kartlades visade att blåsmaskinerna i biosteget står för den enskilt största förbrukningen i verket och det är därför av intresse att minska denna kostnad. Syrestyrningsstrategin som används på Käppalaverket fungerar mycket bra ur reningssynpunkt, men är inte optimal ur energisynpunkt. Dels luftas de första aeroba zonerna för mycket vid låg belastning vilket ger upphov till kraftigt förhöjda syrekoncentrationer i de sista aeroba zonerna med höga luftningskostnader och risk för försämrad denitrifikation, men även under normal belastning har det visat sig att onödigt höga syrekoncentrationer ibland ges.</p><p>Tre fullskaliga optimeringsförsök har utförts, med syfte att minska luftförbrukningen med bibehållen reningsgrad. Försöken pågick från vecka 37 till 50 hösten 2006, och visade att det finns möjlighet att spara energi genom att modifiera syrestyrningsstrategin.</p><p>Den reguljära syreregleringen i Käppalaverket styr syrehalten i den aeroba bassängen mot två syrebörvärden; ett i den första luftade zonen och ett i den sista. Luftflödet till de mellanliggande zonerna styrs av luftflödesandelar beroende på syrehalten i dessa två zoner. Den första strategin som utvärderades styrde istället samtliga zoner individuellt med egna börvärden, där två olika strukturer på de satta börvärdena användes. Genom att utnyttja en högre effektivitet i syreöverföringshastigheten vid låga luftflöden uppnåddes luftflödesbesparingar på ca 16 % i första försöket.</p><p>I den andra strategin styrdes syrebörvärdet i den första luftade zonen med hjälp av två återkopplingar, en från utgående ammoniumhalt och en från syrehalten i den sista luftade zonen.</p><p>Tack vare att strategin anpassade syrebörvärdena efter belastningen av syretärande ämnen erhölls luftflödesbesparingar på ca 9 %. Slutligen kombinerades de två strategierna; samtliga zoner styrdes individuellt med börvärden satta av en ammonium-återkoppling och en syre-återkoppling. Strategin medförde luftflödesbesparingar på ca 18 %. I samtliga försök utnyttjades de luftade zonerna bättre, och besparingspotentialen uträknad från 2005 års elpriser blev som mest 550 000 SEK/år, detta med en bibehållen reningsgrad.</p>

Une méthode miniaturisée de fractionnement de la Demande Chimique en Oxygène (DCO) dans les eaux usées a été développée pour vérifier une possible variabilité à court terme de ce fractionnement et son influence sur le comportement des installations d’épuration par boues activées. Des tests de biodégradabilité, en réacteur fermé, ont été effectués avec des échantillons moyens horaires de temps sec (24h) provenant de deux stations d’épuration urbaines. Les analyses réalisées ont concerné la DCO totale et soluble, la Demande Biologique en Oxygène, les matières sèches et en suspension, l’ammonium et ont été complétées par des analyses spectrales (UV-visible et fluorescence). Globalement, en accord avec les données de la littérature, les fractions biodégradables sont les plus importantes en terme de concentration. Une variabilité journalière du fractionnement a été observée, sans qu’il soit possible de dégager des tendances particulières indiquant la prééminence de telle ou telle fraction. L’effet de la variabilité du fractionnement a été testé en boucle ouverte en utilisant un schéma classique d’épuration du carbone et de l’azote dans un simulateur de référence, le Benchmark Simulation Model 1. Les simulations ont permis de vérifier l’importance de la variabilité du fractionnement de la DCO sur une station d’épuration. Les concentrations en DCO dans l’effluent sont affectées par le rapport entre la fraction biodégradable et inerte, mais restent dans une limite acceptable par rapport aux normes de rejet. La situation est différente et plus délicate pour les rejets en matières azotées car ils sont proches des limites fixées par la réglementation / A miniaturized method has been developed for the fractionation of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in wastewater in order to assess its variability and its effects on the behaviour of wastewater treatment plants by activated sludge. Biodegradability tests have been performed in batch reactor on daily composite samples grabbed by dry weather with a 1h sampling interval. The method has been applied on samples from two urban wastewater treatment plants. The samples were analysed for total and soluble COD, Biological Oxygen Demand, turbidity, total suspended solids and N-NH3. UV-visible and fluorescence spectra have also been collected. It has been observed, as in literature, that the biodegradable fractions are the most significant ones in terms of concentration. A variability of the fractionation during the day has been observed, although it was not possible to determine definite tendencies for particular fractions. In order to evaluate the effect of the variability of the fractionation, the Benchmark Simulation Model n°1 has been used. The sensibility analysis has been performed in open loop. The simulations allowed verifying the impact of the variability of the fractionation on a treatment plant based on a classical setup for the treatment of carbon and nitrogen. The COD concentrations of the plant effluent are affected by the ratio between the biodegradable fraction and the non-biodegradable one, although staying in an acceptable limit according to the discharge limits. The same is not true for the nitrogen, which are close to these limits

Au Liban, 65% de la population résident à Beyrouth et au Mont Liban particulièrement dans la zone côtière et dans une bande étroite du flanc ouest du Mont Liban. Cette occupation engendre une forte pression anthropique sur les ressources hydriques. En effet environ 330 Mm3 d'eaux usées par an sont rejetés dans la Méditerranée par 53 émissaires distribués sur les villes côtières. Ces eaux, rejetées en grande majorité sans traitement, représentent le vecteur principal de pollution du milieu récepteur que représente la Mer Méditerranée (MOE/UNDP/ECODIT, 2011).Cette étude avait pour objectif principal de déterminer la qualité des eaux usées au Liban et d'établir une comparaison entre les contextes Libanais (en s'appuyant sur Beyrouth) et Français (cas de l'agglomération parisienne). Un suivi ponctuel des eaux usées provenant de 4 sites de prélèvement représentatifs de la région de Beyrouth et ses banlieues (sites d'Al Ghadir, Fleuve Beyrouth, Antelias et Jounieh) a été conduit. Deux sites ont été sélectionnés pour un suivi en continu de l'évolution des eaux usées aux échelles journalière et hebdomadaire : Jounieh et Al Ghadir. En France, une série de campagnes ont été réalisées sur les principaux émissaires des stations d'épuration de Marne Aval, Seine Amont, Seine Centre et Seine Aval, au sein de la STEP Seine Centre (au niveau des traitements primaire et secondaire), et en Seine. Ensuite les résultats à Beyrouth et Paris ont été confrontés pour déterminer l'impact sur l'environnement qu'aurait la mise en place de traitements adaptés aux effluents libanais. Les niveaux de contamination pour les paramètres globaux sont comparables pour le prélèvement ponctuel entre les bassins versants d'Al Ghadir et de Jounieh. Cependant les niveaux relevés à Al Ghadir et Jounieh sont plus élevés que ceux d'Antelias et Fleuve Beyrouth. Par ailleurs, le suivi en continu a permis de mettre en évidence que les niveaux en MES, MVS, DCOT et DBO5 sont généralement comparables sur les deux sites Al Ghadir et Jounieh. La comparaison avec les émissaires parisiens montre des différences significatives pour les MES, MVS et DBO5, ces paramètres sont significativement plus élevés sur les sites libanais. Pour la DCOT, les concentrations sont comparables entre les deux pays. En comparant les ETM totaux (Cr, Zn, Cu, Cd et Pb), on trouve que la concentration en cuivre des émissaires parisiens est plus élevée que celle du Liban pour les bassins versants d'Al Ghadir et Jounieh. Pour le plomb et le zinc, les concentrations sont comparables entre les deux pays. Enfin les concentrations en cadmium et chrome sont beaucoup plus élevées à Beyrouth qu'à Paris. Les flux en ETM au Liban exportés vers la Mer Méditerranée pour le site d'Al Ghadir sont 20,7; 20,8; 2,42; 0,6; et 1,5 kg/jour respectivement pour le CrT, ZnT, CuT, CdT et PbT et pour l'émissaire de Jounieh 0,66; 3,7; 0,38; 0,045 et 0,33 kg/jour. En s'appuyant sur l'efficacité des STEP parisiennes, les niveaux rejetés diminueraient de 90 à 98% pour les MES, de 84 à 95% pour la DCOT et de 63 à 97 % suivant l'ETM concerné / In Lebanon, 65 % of the population lives in Beirut and Mount Lebanon particularly along the coastal area and a narrow band of the western side of the Lebanon Mount. This occupation generates a strong anthropic pressure on the water resources. Indeed approximately 330 mm3 of waste waters a year are rejected into the Mediterranean by 53 trunks distributed along the coastal towns. In fact, these wastewaters are released to natural media without any significant treatment and These effluents, released in great majority without treatment, are considered as the primary vector of the Mediterranean Sea pollution (MOE/UNDP/ECODIT, 2011).This study aimed at determining the quality of wastewaters in Lebanon and at establishing a comparison between the Lebanese (with respect to Beirut) and French (case of the urban area of Paris) contexts. A specific monitoring of wastewaters was led on 4 representative sampling sites of the area of Beirut and its suburbs (Al Ghadir sites, Beirut River, Antelias and Jounieh). Two sites were selected to follow the evolution of the wastewater quality both at the daily and weekly scale: Jounieh and Al Ghadir. In France, a series of campaigns were carried out on the main trunks of several wastewater treatment plants, e.g., Marne Aval, Seine Amont, Seine Aval and Seine Centre, in the Seine Centre WWTP (within the primary and secondary treatments), and in the Seine River. Then the results in Beirut and Paris were confronted to determine the environmental impact of the installation of treatments adapted to the Lebanese effluents.Contamination levels for the water quality parameters were comparable for the punctual sampling between the Al Ghadir and Jounieh watersheds. However, the levels found in Al Ghadir and Jounieh were higher than those of Antelias and Beirut River. In addition, continuous monitoring helped to highlight the levels of TSS, VSS, BOD5 and CODT were generally comparable at both sites: Al Ghadir and Jounieh. The comparison with the Parisian trunks showed significant differences for TSS, BOD5 and VSS, these parameters were significantly higher on Lebanese sites. For CODT, concentrations were comparable between the two countries. By comparing the total ETM (Cr, Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb), we found that Cu concentrations in Parisian trunks were higher than those of Lebanese Al Ghadir and Jounieh watersheds. For lead and zinc concentrations were comparable between the two countries. Finally, the concentrations of cadmium and chromium were much higher in Beirut than in Paris. Trace metal flows to the Mediterranean Sea from the Al Ghadir site were of 20,7; 20,8; 2,42; 0,6; and 1,5 kg/day for CrT, ZnT, CuT, CdT and PbT respectively, and for Jounieh they were of 0,66; 3,7; 0,38; 0,045 and 0,33 kg/day, respectively. Based on the effectiveness of the Parisian WWTPs, released levels would decrease by 90-98 % for TSS, 84-95 % for CODt and 63-97 % depending on the ETM concerned