Aim
This Working Group (WG) aims to explore and advance the positive applications of biofilms in environmental biotechnology, particularly focusing on engineered microbial communities in water treatment processes. Biofilms play a crucial role in technologies such as slow sand filters (schmutzdecke), biofilters and granular sludges, contributing to efficient wastewater treatment and resource recovery. By bringing together experts from academia, industry, and government, we seek to enhance the understanding of beneficial biofilm formation and function, develop innovative engineering strategies, and promote best practices for harnessing biofilms in sustainable water treatment systems.
Working Group Co-ordinator
Dr Francis Hassard is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health Microbiology at Cranfield Water Science Institute and Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology. Dr Hassard has over 15 years of experience in environmental biotechnology, specialising in microbial biofilms in water systems. He has led multiple research projects on biofilm formation and control, publishing extensively in the field. His expertise spans biofilm dynamics, microbial ecology, and the development of innovative strategies for engineering beneficial biofilms in water treatment processes.
Interested?
Contact Dr Francis Hassard, Cranfield University.
WG Activities
Latest news
See here for recent items from this WG, and for more news click on tag for WB WG
For details of activities to March 2025 see the WB WG Report
Animation
See the Slow Sand Filtration Animation, with a subtitled version here. This animation is part of EBNet’s series on microbiology and engineering. It explains the concepts behind slow sand filtration (SSF) for improved water quality – and some new developments in harnessing biofilms to produce microbiologically safe drinking water.
Workshop
The WG’s Workshop on Engineering Beneficial Biofilms was held on 22 January 2025, RSC, London. This workshop brought together researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers to discuss the latest advancements in engineering beneficial biofilms for water treatment. For outputs see the Position Statement, Research Priorities and full Workshop Report.
Webinars
Dr Hassard was Lead Organiser of the EBNet/NBIC Water Biofilms seminar series:
What are biofilms doing in our drinking water pipes? by Professor Joby Boxall, University of Sheffield – 21 September 2022, 12-13:00
Granular Activated Carbon Biofilms for Biomethanation from Wastewater by Dr Po-Heng Lee, Imperial College London – 6 July 2022, 12-13:00
Dr Hassard also chaired, and awarded the prizes for, our EBNet ECR24 conference, 24-26 July 2024, Newcastle University.
EBNet POC Funding
EBNet funded the following Proof-of-Concept (POC) projects in this area:
Bio-engineering of water biofilter communities for enhanced degradation of dissolved organic matter EBNet POC202106 Dr Marta Vignola, Univerity of Glasgow
Fluorescent microbiofilter assay for rapid real-time monitoring of organic micropollutants biodegradation EBNet POC202113 Dr Caroline Gauchotte-Lindsay, University of Glasgow
Fibre Highways: Translocation of the microbiome for pollutant bioremediation EBNet POC202015 Dr Angela Sherry Northumbria University, Dr Jane Scott Newcatle University
Relevant Publications
Microbial water quality investigation through flow cytometry fingerprinting: from source to tap
By: Leila Claveau, Neil Hudson, Peter Jarvis, Paul Jeffrey, Francis Hassard. In: Sustainable Microbiology, Volume 1, Issue 1, January 2024, qvae003, https://doi.org/10.1093/sumbio/qvae003
Time to revise the terminology we use to regulate water management practices
By: Paul Jeffrey, Heather Smith & Francis Hassard. In: Nature Water volume 2, page 208 (2024)