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Bacteriophage tracer experiments in groundwater.

H Skilton¹, D Wheeler

¹Microbiology Department, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.

The Journal of Applied Bacteriology

|November 1, 1988

Summary

Bacteriophage tracers in groundwater revealed rapid migration patterns, with recovery rates up to 1.9%. Aquifer hydrogeology, not bacteriophage morphology, primarily dictated migration behavior.

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Area of Science:

Environmental science
Microbiology
Hydrogeology

Background:

Tracer experiments are crucial for understanding groundwater flow dynamics.
Bacteriophages are effective biological tracers due to their specific host ranges and environmental stability.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate bacteriophage recovery patterns in an aquifer.
To determine bacteriophage migration rates and quantify recovery.
To assess the influence of bacteriophage morphology on transport behavior.

Main Methods:

Three distinct bacteriophage tracers were injected into an aquifer at different distances (122 m and 366 m) from a pumping borehole.
Water samples were collected regularly from injection and pumping boreholes.
Bacteriophage concentrations and migration times were analyzed.

Main Results:

Similar recovery patterns were observed across all experiments, with an initial peak in bacteriophage numbers at the pumping borehole.
The highest recovery rate was 1.9% of the initial inoculum, with most cases showing one log10 lower recovery.
Maximum migration rates reached 2.8 cm/s, but no significant differences were linked to bacteriophage morphology.

Conclusions:

Aquifer hydrogeology is the dominant factor controlling bacteriophage migration patterns.
Bacteriophage morphology did not significantly influence recovery percentages or transit times.
The study highlights the utility of bacteriophages as tracers in hydrogeological investigations.

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