Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Griffin Campus, The University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223, USA.
J Appl Microbiol. 2011 Oct;111(4):835-47. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2011.05105.x. Epub 2011 Aug 4.
To examine microbial transport through properly functioning and failing onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) and its implication in surrounding water quality.
Water samples were collected from monitoring wells near leach lines of OWTS and nearby ditches and receiving surface waters to analyse for Escherichia coli and enterococci. Tracer studies with Rhodamine WT (RWT) and coliphage MS2 were also carried out to understand the fate and transport of contaminants through each OWTS. Escherichia coli and enterococci concentrations were higher around failing than properly functioning OWTS by as much as 85-fold. A storm event resulting in 9·5 cm of rainfall increased E. coli and enterococci concentrations by averages of 4·1 × 10³ and 7·9 × 10³ MPN per 100 ml, respectively, in wells close to the OWTS. MS2 persisted in the wastewater distribution boxes of the OWTS for several months and was detected in some outer perimeter wells.
Properly functioning OWTS in eastern North Carolina were effective in treating wastewater, whereas the failing OWTS affected the groundwater quality more adversely, especially after a rain storm, but had minor impact on the nearby coastal surface water.
The study is the first description of the microbial contaminant signature stemming from properly functioning and failing systems under regular use in a high-priority coastal area.
研究微生物在正常运行和失效的现场废水处理系统（OWTS）中的迁移及其对周围水质的影响。
从 OWTS 渗滤管附近的监测井以及附近的沟渠和受纳地表水采集水样，以分析大肠杆菌和肠球菌。还进行了 Rhodamine WT（RWT）和噬菌体 MS2 的示踪研究，以了解污染物在每个 OWTS 中的运移和归宿。失效的 OWTS 周围的大肠杆菌和肠球菌浓度比正常运行的 OWTS 高 85 倍。一次暴雨事件导致降雨量为 9.5 厘米，OWTS 附近的井中大肠杆菌和肠球菌浓度平均分别增加了 4.1×10³和 7.9×10³MPN/100ml。MS2 在 OWTS 的废水分配箱中持续存在了几个月，并在一些外围井中检测到。
北卡罗来纳州东部的正常运行的 OWTS 有效地处理了废水，而失效的 OWTS 对地下水质量的影响更为不利，尤其是在暴雨之后，但对附近的沿海地表水影响较小。
该研究首次描述了在高优先级沿海地区正常运行和失效系统中微生物污染物特征。
