Transient response of microbial communities in a water well field to application of an impressed current

Deterioration of water wells due to clogging and corrosion over time is a common problem where solutions may be costly and ineffective. Pilot studies have suggested that impressed current or cathodic protection may be used to reduce microbially-induced declines in water well performance. Two water wells in an alluvial aquifer close to the North Saskatchewan River were selected to study the response of subsurface microbial communities to the application of an impressed current as an anti-fouling technology. The treated well was exposed to an impressed current while the untreated well was used as a reference site. Biofilms grown on in situ coupons under the influence of the impressed current were significantly (p < 0.05) thicker (mean thickness = 67.3 μm) when compared to the biofilms (mean thickness = 19.3 μm) grown outside the electric field. Quantitative PCR analyses showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher numbers of total bacteria, iron- and nitrate-reducers in the electrified zone. Molecular analysis revealed that the predominant bacteria present in biofilms grown under the influence of the impressed current belonged to Rhodobacter spp., Sediminibacterium spp. and Geobacter spp. In addition to favouring the growth of biofilms, direct microscopic and ICP-AES analyses revealed that the impressed current also caused the deposition of iron and manganese on, and in the vicinity of, the well screen. Together, these factors contributed to rapid clogging leading to reduced specific pumping capacities of the treated well. The study revealed that the impressed current system was not effective as an anti-fouling technology but actually promoted both microbial growth and physical clogging in this aquifer.