By: Emily Gonzalez
Contamination from sewage exfiltration (leakage) is a matter of great concern due to the effects it has on the groundwater in populated areas. Many people in the United States are served untreated or very poorly treated groundwater. It is believed that this contamination leads to further health complications due to water-borne diseases (Gotkowitz et al.,2016). A study done in 2016, examined the distribution of viruses in shallow groundwater, between municipal wells and the sanitary sewage. The study was conducted in two types of climates and during different years; the first one in 2008 during a heavy precipitation climate, and the second one in 2012 during a severe drought climate. The scientists conducted these experiments by sampling over a period of one year in search for human-specific viruses, as well as indicator bacteria from 22 wells at seven different locations. The sewers studied were of different ages and materials in order to properly evaluate if the conditions of the sewer had an effect on the virus occurrence in groundwater. The results indicated that groundwater was positive for viruses in 3.7% of the 455 samples collected (Gotkowitz et al., 2016). The results at first surprisingly showed that the age and density of the sewers did not have higher rates of viruses, but when the two studies were compared they showed a significant effect over the years . Furthermore, climate had a major impact since during the heavy precipitation year more wells were virus positive than during the drought. The findings of this study were eye opening, sewage exfiltration into groundwater is a problem that needs more attention. Fresh water availability is a vital part of environmental sustainability, It is imperative that water is treated correctly to eliminate viruses that can lead to negative health consequences.
Gotkowitz, B. M., Bradbury, R. K., Borchardt, A. M., Zhu, J., and Spencer, K. S.2016.Effects of Climate and Sewer Condition on Virus Transport to Groundwater. Environ. Sci. Technol. 50,16, 8497-8504.
Contamination from sewage exfiltration (leakage) is a matter of great concern due to the effects it has on the groundwater in populated areas. Many people in the United States are served untreated or very poorly treated groundwater. It is believed that this contamination leads to further health complications due to water-borne diseases (Gotkowitz et al.,2016). A study done in 2016, examined the distribution of viruses in shallow groundwater, between municipal wells and the sanitary sewage. The study was conducted in two types of climates and during different years; the first one in 2008 during a heavy precipitation climate, and the second one in 2012 during a severe drought climate. The scientists conducted these experiments by sampling over a period of one year in search for human-specific viruses, as well as indicator bacteria from 22 wells at seven different locations. The sewers studied were of different ages and materials in order to properly evaluate if the conditions of the sewer had an effect on the virus occurrence in groundwater. The results indicated that groundwater was positive for viruses in 3.7% of the 455 samples collected (Gotkowitz et al., 2016). The results at first surprisingly showed that the age and density of the sewers did not have higher rates of viruses, but when the two studies were compared they showed a significant effect over the years . Furthermore, climate had a major impact since during the heavy precipitation year more wells were virus positive than during the drought. The findings of this study were eye opening, sewage exfiltration into groundwater is a problem that needs more attention. Fresh water availability is a vital part of environmental sustainability, It is imperative that water is treated correctly to eliminate viruses that can lead to negative health consequences.
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| Figure 1: Viruses Found in Groundwater and Wastewater Samples |
Gotkowitz, B. M., Bradbury, R. K., Borchardt, A. M., Zhu, J., and Spencer, K. S.2016.Effects of Climate and Sewer Condition on Virus Transport to Groundwater. Environ. Sci. Technol. 50,16, 8497-8504.
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