Metagenomics: Revolutionising Microbial Insight in the Wastewater Industry
August 15, 2025
In the modern wastewater industry, understanding the invisible world of microbes is key to optimising treatment performance, maintaining regulatory compliance, and protecting the environment. Enter metagenomics – a powerful molecular biology tool to study genetic material that is rapidly transforming how wastewater professionals monitor and manage microbial communities.
Metagenomics, or DNA data quantification and sequencing, is something we have been developing and using since 2017 at our parent firm, Davis French & Associates; but what does it actually mean?
Metagenomics is the direct genetic analysis of all biological material, including microorganisms present in an environmental sample, without the need for culturing. It involves extracting DNA from the sample, sequencing it, and using bioinformatics tools to identify which organisms are present and what functional genes they carry.
In contrast to traditional culture-based methods, which can detect only a fraction of microbial life, metagenomics provides a comprehensive, unbiased snapshot of the entire microbial community.
Metagenomics is particularly useful when operating and maintaining anaerobic digestion (AD) processes. AD is a natural, multi-stepped biological process in which microorganisms break down organic matter present in biomass waste whilst in the absence of oxygen, to produce biogas (approximately 60% methane and 40% carbon dioxide) and digestate. The four main stages are hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis. The biogas can be utilised in a combined heat and power (CHP) unit to reduce carbon emissions, reduce energy costs, and improve environmental performance. Alternatively, biogas can be transformed into biomethane and injected into “Gas to Grid”. Allowing AD to be used as a renewable energy resource whilst reducing greenhouse emissions, providing a waste management solution, and increasing profitability.
Why does it matter in wastewater treatment?
Although traditional wet chemical and physical techniques are used for monitoring purposes, they cannot specifically examine and assess the microbial biome. Metagenomics enables us to directly monitor and assess the AD’s biology to determine the percentage of methanogenic bacteria present to enable optimisation of methane yields and biogas generation.
Wastewater treatment relies on complex microbial processes to break down organic matter. With Metagenomics, we can directly confirm the presence, abundance, and diversity of these microbial players and even track how they respond to onsite operational changes.
Where can metagenomics help?
- Process optimisation
- Methane production
- Troubleshooting
- Maintaining compliance
The wastewater industry has always relied on biology and chemistry. With metagenomics, we now have the tools to truly understand that biology – and to harness it more intelligently than ever before; as well as understanding the chemicals involved and breakdowns that should happen.
To ensure your next project utilises innovative testing techniques such as metagenomics to lead with accuracy, speak to a member of our team today here.
To review how we have used metagenomics for a client recently, read our latest case study: Metagenomic Analysis of Nitrifying Bacteria in a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) from a Wastewater Treatment Works