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RBF as a Microbial Treatment Process
Author(s) -
Gollnitz William D.,
Clancy Jennifer L.,
Whitteberry Bruce L.,
Vogt Jeffrey A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.2003.tb10511.x
Subject(s) - cryptosporidium , giardia , filtration (mathematics) , groundwater , aquifer , environmental science , protozoa , surface water , contamination , environmental engineering , hydrology (agriculture) , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , ecology , geology , mathematics , statistics , geotechnical engineering , feces
Ten production wells drilled in a highly productive sand and gravel aquifer and recharged by an adjacent river were evaluated for potential Giardia and Cryptosporidium contamination. The goal of this study was to determine whether riverbank filtration could achieve significant reduction to a level at which no additional engineered filtration would be required for pathogenic protozoa. Pathogen monitoring was conducted sporadically over 10 years. Intensive monitoring was conducted for a 20‐month period at 10 “flowpath wells” and two production wells. Algae, diatoms, and other surface water indicators were found in 57% of 128 groundwater samples. Of 285 groundwater samples collected and analyzed for Giardia o or Cryptosporidium , no pathogens were detected. No correlation existed between Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and surface water indicators. All surrogates demonstrated a minimum 4‐log reduction. Even though there is hydrologic influence, riverbank filtration is highly effective in removing pathogenic protozoa.