Science Inventory

MICROBIAL PATHOGEN REMOVAL DURING BANK FILTRATION

Description:

Our incomplete understanding of processes and properties affecting pathogenic microbe transport during riverbank filtration is currently limiting our ability to predict the effectiveness of this water treatment option. We propose a series of fundamental experiments designed to better understand the effects of microbe size, physical and geochemical heterogeneity of the porous media, and high pumping rates on the transport of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts and Giardia lamblia cysts in alluvial valley aquifers used for riverbank filtration.

Hypotheses to be tested during this research address (1) the effect of microbe size on transport, (2) the effect of physical heterogeneity of the porous media on transport, (3) the effect of geochemical heterogeneity of the porous media on transport, (4) the effect of microbe release from unfavorable attachment sites, and (5) the effect of high pumping rates on microbe release. Our major objective for this research is to develop a model of oocyst transport in porous media that can accommodate the physical and geochemical heterogeneity present in alluvial valley aquifer used for riverbank filtration.

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT( ABSTRACT )
Start Date:09/01/2001
Completion Date:08/31/2004
Record ID: 53143