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Microbial risk assessment in heterogeneous aquifers: 1. Pathogen transport
Author(s) -
Molin S.,
Cvetkovic V.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2009wr008036
Subject(s) - aquifer , pathogen , environmental science , hydraulic conductivity , transmission (telecommunications) , soil science , groundwater , hydrology (agriculture) , biology , geotechnical engineering , microbiology and biotechnology , geology , engineering , soil water , electrical engineering
Pathogen transport in heterogeneous aquifers is investigated for microbial risk assessment. A point source with time‐dependent input of pathogens is assumed, exemplified as a simple on‐site sanitation installation, intermingled with water supply wells. Any pathogen transmission pathway (realization) to the receptor from a postulated infection hazard is viewed as a random event, with the hydraulic conductivity varying spatially. For aquifers where VAR[ln K ] < 1 and the integral scale is finite, we provide relatively simple semianalytical expressions for pathogen transport that incorporate the colloid filtration theory. We test a wide range of Damkohler numbers in order to assess the significance of rate limitations on the aquifer barrier function. Even slow immobile inactivation may notably affect the retention of pathogens. Analytical estimators for microbial peak discharge are evaluated and are shown to be applicable using parameters representative of rotavirus and Hepatitis A with input of 10–20 days duration.