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Guannan Ding_Thesis-3.pdf (2.43 MB)

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Bacterial Movement in Soil During Winter Irrigation of Reclaimed Wastewater

Ding, Guannan
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1409036088

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environmental Science.
Reclaimed wastewater has gained acceptance as freshwater resources become more and more scarce. Land application of reclaimed wastewater was established as the substitute for direct discharge of wastewater to natural water bodies. The purpose of the work was to investigate the impacts of soil moisture, temperature, and depth of soil saturation, on microbial removal efficiency (e.g. , E. coli) from spray irrigation of reclaimed wastewater. Deer Creek State Park in Ohio was chosen as a study site for winter irrigation with reclaimed wastewater practiced over two winters (2013 to 2014). During the first winter no wastewater was irrigated and during the second winter wastewater was irrigated 7 times over the period of 5 months. In addition, laboratory experiments were conducted with intact soil columns obtained from Deer Creek State Park and held in freezers at temperatures ranging from 5±1 °C to -5 ±1 °C. Field test results indicated that the soil moisture and temperature conditions had little influence on the Escherichia.coli movement to groundwater. Irrigation practices did not saturate the soil, but E. coli did move through the first meter of soil and was detected in subsurface drainage water. Based on the fact that E. coli was detected in subsurface drainage water in both the non-irrigated and irrigated winter season, it was assumed that the source of E. coli might be from both natural (e.g., wildlife) and human sources. Moreover, no surface runoff (with E. coli) was found as the response of spray irrigation. However, precipitation moved E. coli during both winters from the field through surface runoff. E. coli was detected at up to 102 Colony Forming Unit/100 mL in groundwater at 30 cm in all soil columns placed in freezers whether irrigated with treated wastewater or tap water. When soil columns were held at room temperature for about 6 months watered once each week to keep the soil moist, no E. coli moved to the groundwater after irrigation. Irrigation of reclaimed wastewater during winter in Deer Creek State Park did not result in surface runoff of E. coli. However, both wildlife induced and E. coli from wastewater can runoff in response to precipitation. E. coli can also move to surface water through subsurface drainage when the groundwater table is above the drainage system depth. If the soil is unsaturated, no E. coli from wastewater moved 30 cm in the soil columns vertically to the groundwater. Wastewater should not be irrigated on fields with subsurface drainage systems, because it serves as a pathway for bacteria movement from the soil to surface water. This study provides guidance for winter irrigation of reclaimed wastewater, in order to reduce the risk of water contamination due to pathogens in wastewater.
Karen Mancl (Advisor)
Jiyoung Lee (Committee Member)
Brian Slater (Committee Member)
Olli Tuovinen (Committee Member)
126 p.
Agricultural Engineering; Environmental Health; Environmental Science; Microbiology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ding, G. (2014). Bacterial Movement in Soil During Winter Irrigation of Reclaimed Wastewater [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1409036088

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ding, Guannan. Bacterial Movement in Soil During Winter Irrigation of Reclaimed Wastewater. 2014. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1409036088.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ding, Guannan. "Bacterial Movement in Soil During Winter Irrigation of Reclaimed Wastewater." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1409036088

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1409036088
670
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.