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The Study of a Pseudomonad Infestation in a Well at Shilo, Manitoba
Author(s) -
Cullimore D. R.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1983.tb00761.x
Subject(s) - turbidity , nitrate , environmental chemistry , population , pseudomonas , environmental science , hydrocarbon , chemistry , environmental engineering , ecology , biology , bacteria , genetics , demography , organic chemistry , sociology
Water from a newly installed well (4A) at the Canadian Forces Base, Shilo in Manitoba, Canada was reported to be producing a hydrocarbon smell and sporadic turbidity which was shown to be caused by the generation of a significant population of the bacterium Pseudomonas aureofaciens . In this investigation, the pseudomonad was isolated, identified and found to be able to degrade mineral oil (as a source of organic carbon) aerobically but was not capable of nitrate respiration or of anaerobic growth. The generation of high populations (and turbidity) of Pseudomonas aureofaciens in the well water was linked to the presence of dissolved oxygen in the water along with sufficient hydrocarbons to support growth. The maximum population recorded was 8 × 10 5 C.F.U./ml. The origin of the hydrocarbons in the ground water was postulated to have been long‐term solvent spills from a nearby paint shop.