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This study assessed the impact of electrical conductivity (EC) on the microeukaryotic community and pollutant removal efficiency in full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Catalonia, Spain.Monthly samples from seven WWTPs (2010-2021) were collected, with microbial communities identified by microscopy and effluent quality parameters measured.Linear mixed-effects models (LMER), indicator species analysis (IndVal), and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to evaluate the effects of EC on WWTP operation and microbial communities.EC levels varied widely among WWTPs (800 to 15,000 μS cm -1 ), with mean removal rates generally low, not exceeding 26 %.EC removal was inversely correlated with organic matter removal (p 3000 μS cm-1 ).Seasonal variations did not significantly alter community sensitivity to salinity (p > 0.05).LMER and SEM analyses revealed strong adverse effects of high EC and EC peaks on microbial diversity, richness, and the efficiency of organic matter and TKN removal (p < 0.05).This highlights the importance of monitoring and controlling EC levels in WWTP influent to maintain optimal treatment performance and the need for effective technologies or biological processes to mitigate saline discharges into rivers.
Salcedo et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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