Study Shows Wastewater Treatment Upgrades Transform Microbial Communities in Beijing Rivers
A study led by Yaohui Bai from the Chinese Academy of Sciences examined the impact of wastewater treatment plant upgrades in Beijing's Tonghui and Qing Rivers. The research found that upgrades significantly reduced total nitrogen concentrations in Tonghui River and altered nitrogen-cycling microbial communities, while viral communities showed stable structures but shifted functional strategies. The findings highlight the ecological changes prompted by WWTP enhancements and emphasize the need for integrating microbial markers in water quality assessments.
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Research from 2015 to 2024 assessed the effects of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) upgrades on river microbiomes in Beijing. The Tonghui River, upgraded in 2017, showed a decrease in total nitrogen concentrations from 20-30 mg·L⁻¹ to about 10 mg·L⁻¹.
Significant shifts in nitrogen-cycling bacteria were noted, with species nestedness contributing to community variation increasing from 68% to 86%. The upgrade resulted in a 70% decrease in the median nitrifier-to-denitrifier abundance ratio, indicating a shift towards enhanced denitrification.
Conversely, viral communities remained structurally stable but exhibited a 15%-30% increase in replication genes post-upgrade. The study suggests that WWTP upgrades lead to broader ecological impacts, warranting the inclusion of microbial assessments in river management.
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