Graduation Year

2003

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Granting Department

Marine Science

Major Professor

Joan B. Rose, Ph.D.

Committee Member

John H. Paul, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Debra E. Huffman, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Charles P. Gerba, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Ronald W. Harvey, Ph.D.

Keywords

bacteria, viruses, inactivation, temperature, total dissolved solids, wetlands, septic systems, contamination, floridan aquifer, aquifer storage and recovery

Abstract

Ground water resources are heavily used for drinking water supply and often as a receptacle for waste water. One concern is the possible contamination of wetland areas by ground water receiving septic system infiltration. To investigate this, two tracer studies were performed using the bacteriophage PRD-1 by seeding septic systems adjacent to wetlands with the phage and monitoring migration towards wetland areas. Transport velocities were evaluated based on appearance of tracer in sampling wells at various distances from the injection point. Velocities were estimated to be 0.25 m/d and 0.4 m/d at the two sites. Some retardation with respect to the conservative tracer SF6 was observed, with a factor of about 1.5. Due to dry conditions, the water table was well below surface, so transport of the virus into surface water was not observed. Survival of public-health-related microorganisms in ground water is also a concern. The effects of temperature and total dissolved solids (TDS) on survival of 5 groups of indicator organisms were evaluated in controlled experiments. TDS did not have significant effects on inactivation of these microbes up to 1000 mg/l, but there was indication of reduced inactivation of enterococci at TDS concentrations of 3000 mg/l. Increased temperature consistently resulted in more rapid inactivation. Survival in aquifer and reservoir water samples was also evaluated, and significant effects due to water type, temperature, and pasteurization treatment were observed. Inactivation was more rapid in surface water sources, and pasteurization enhanced survival. For enterococci and DNA coliphage, pasteurization effects were more pronounced in surface water. DNA coliphage and perhaps fecal coliform appeared to be the more-conservative indicator organisms for aquifer injection monitoring. Lastly, it was observed that inactivation rates were considerably slower in pore water of saturated limestone than in the bulk water column of similar water sources and conditions, particularly for enterococci and fecal coliform.

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