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PREDICTING VIRUS LOADING TO STREAMS FROM GROUNDWATER: NONPOINT SOURCE APPLICATIONS FOR TMDL EVALUATIONS
Citation:
Faulkner*, B P. PREDICTING VIRUS LOADING TO STREAMS FROM GROUNDWATER: NONPOINT SOURCE APPLICATIONS FOR TMDL EVALUATIONS. Presented at National TMDL Science & Policy Conference, Phoenix, AZ, 11/13-16/2002.
Description:
Density of septic systems in watersheds has been identified as a contributor to pathogen loading in streams. At present, little work has been done to provide simple models to assist in evaluating groundwater loading for pathogen TMDLs. A compartmental model is being developed for this purpose. The model uses information on the density of septic systems, and other nonpoint sources of pathogenic viruses, such as irrigation with treated municipal water, to predict leaching to the water table, attenuation during groundwater residence, and loading to streams by seepage. Attenuation results from biological inactivation, predation, adsorption, and dispersion. The model is for use at the small watershed scale. Here a small watershed is defined as one which is small enough that it can be affected by management actions. A key aspect of the model is use of readily available information, most of which can be obtained from geographic information systems (GIS). The mathematical models employed are suited for use with frequency distributions of the parameters and hence model outputs include estimates of uncertainty. All computer model components are Open-Source, and require no specialized GIS software to use them.