Solar disinfection modeling and post-irradiation response of Escherichia coli in wastewater

•We investigated the bacterial kinetics during and after simulated solar disinfection of secondary effluent.•Production of 2 high accuracy models (shoulder log-linear and Weibull) was achieved.•The dose for 4-log inactivation and the effective bacteriostatic dose (EBD) were found.•Bacterial kinetics complied to light intensity and dose in reciprocal manner at close intensities.•Long-term decay observed beyond the EBD, regardless of the irradiance applied.