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Water reuse has become a promising alternative to alleviate stress on conventional freshwater resources in the face of population growth, sea level rise, source water depletion, eutrophication of water bodies, and climate change. Potable water reuse intentionally looks to purify wastewater effluent to drinking water quality or better through the development and implementation of advanced treatment trains. While membrane-based treatment has become a widely-adopted treatment step to meet this purpose, there is growing interest in implementing treatment trains that harness microorganisms as a more sustainable and less energy-intensive means of removing contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), through biological degradation or transformation. In this dissertation, various aspects of the operation of a microbially-active carbon-based advanced treatment train producing water intended for potable reuse are examined, including fate of dissolved organic carbon, underlying microbial populations, and functional genes are explored. Further, dynamics associated with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), identified as a microbially-relevant CECs, are also assessed. Overall, this dissertation advances understanding associated with the interplay between and within treatment processes as they relate to removal of various organic carbon fractions, microbially community dynamics, functional genes, and ARGs. Further, when relevant, these insights are contextualized to operational conditions, process upsets, water quality parameters, and other intended water uses within the water industry with the goal of broadening the application of advanced molecular tools beyond the scope of academic research. Specifically, this dissertation illuminates relationships among organic carbon fractions and molecular markers within an advanced treatment train employing flocculation, coagulation, and sedimentation (FlocSed), ozonation, biologically active carbon (BAC) filtration, granular active carbon (GAC) contacting, and UV disinfection. Biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) analysis was adapted specifically as an assay relevant to assessing dissolved organic carbon biodegradability by BAC/GAC-biofilms and applied to profile biodegradable/non-biodegradable organic carbon as wastewater effluent passed through each of these treatment stages. Of particular interest was the role of ozonation in producing bioavailable organic carbon that can be effectively removed by BAC filtration. In addition to understanding the removal of fractionalized organic carbon, next generation DNA sequencing technologies (NGS) were utilized to better understand the microbial dynamics characteristic of complex microbial communities during disinfection and biological treatment. Specifically, this analysis was focused on succession and colonization of taxa, genes related to a wide range of functional interests (e.g. metabolic processes, horizontal gene transfer, DNA repair, and nitrogen cycling), and microbial CECs. Finally, NGS technologies were employed to assess the differences between a wide range of water use categories, including conventional drinking water, potable reuse, and non-potable reuse effluent's microbiomes to identify core and discriminatory taxa associated with intended water usage. The outcomes of this dissertation provide valuable information for optimizing carbon-based treatment trains as an alternative to membrane-based treatment for sustainable water reuse and also advance the application of NGS as a diagnostic tool for assessing the efficacy of various water treatment technologies for achieving treatment goals. / Doctor of Philosophy / Several factors have led to increased stress on conventional drinking water sources and widespread global water scarcity. Projections indicate that continued population growth, increased water demand, and degradation of current freshwater resources will negatively contribute to water needs and underscore the need to secure new potable (i.e. fit for human consumption) sources. Water reuse is a promising alternative to offset the growing demands on traditional potable sources and ameliorate negative consequences associated with water scarcity. Discharge of treated wastewater to marine environments is especially a lost opportunity, as the water will no longer be of value to freshwater habitats or as a drinking water source. Water reuse challenges the conventional wastewater treatment paradigm by providing advanced treatment of wastewater effluent to produce a valuable resource that can be safely used directly for either non-potable (e.g., irrigation, firefighting) or potable (i.e., drinking water) applications. The means of achieving advanced treatment of wastewater effluents can take many forms, commonly relying on the utilization of membrane filtration. However, membrane filtration is an intensive process and suffers from high initial costs, high operational costs, membrane fouling with time, and the production of a salty and difficult to dispose of waste stream. These drawbacks have motivated the water reuse industry to explore more sustainable approaches to achieving high quality effluents. One such alternative relies on the utilization of microorganisms to provide biological degradation and transformation of contaminants through a process known as biologically active filtration (BAF). Comparatively to membrane systems, BAF is more cost effective and produces significantly fewer byproducts while still producing high quality treated water for reuse. However, the range in quality of the resulting treated water has not yet been fully established, in part due to the lack of understanding of the complex microbial communities responsible for biological treatment. As water and wastewater treatment technologies have evolved over the past century, many biological treatments have remained largely 'black box' due to the lack of effective tools to identify the tens of thousands of species of microbes that inhabit a typical system and to track their dynamics with time. Instead, analysis has largely focused on basic water quality indicators. This dissertation takes important steps in advancing the implementation of the study of DNA and biodegradable organic carbon (BDOC) analysis to improve understanding of the mechanisms that drive different water reuse treatment technologies and to identify potential vulnerabilities. Insights gained through application of these tools are contextualized to observed operational conditions, process upsets, and water quality measurements. This helped to advance the use of DNA-based tools to better inform water treatment engineering practice. Specifically, this dissertation dives into the relationships between organic carbon and DNA-based markers within an advanced treatment train employing flocculation, coagulation, and sedimentation (FlocSed), ozonation, biologically active carbon (BAC) filtration, granular active carbon (GAC) contacting, and UV disinfection. Development and application of the BDOC test revealed that the bulk of organic carbon entering the treatment train is dissolved. Further, BDOC analysis served to characterize the impact of specific treatment processes and changes in operational conditions on both biodegradable and non-biodegradable organic carbon fractions. Such information can help to inform continued process optimization. Utilization of DNA-based technologies shed light on the functional capacity of microbial communities present within each stage of treatment and the fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). ARGs are of concern because, when present in human pathogens, they can result in the failure of antibiotics to cure deadly infections. Other functional genes of interest were also examined using the DNA-based analysis, including genes driving metabolic processes and nitrogen cycling that are critical to water purification during BAF treatment. Also, the DNA-based analyses made it possible to better understand the effects of disinfectants on microbes. Interestingly, some ARG types increased in relative abundance (a measure analogous to percent composition) response to treatments, such as disinfection, and others decreased. Characterization of the microbial communities and their dynamic response to changing operation conditions were also observed. For example, it was possible to characterize how the profiles of microbes changed with time, an ecological process called succession, during BAC filtration and GAC contacting. Generally, this analysis, coupled with the functional analysis, shed light on the important, divergent roles of bacterial communities on organic degradation during both BAC and GAC treatment. Finally, a study was conducted that compared the microbiome (i.e. entire microbial community) between a wide range of conventional drinking water, potable reuse water, and non-potable reuse waters. Here it was found that significant differences existed between the microbial communities of water intended for potable or non-potable usage. This work also looked to expand the application of NGS technologies beyond strictly academic research by developing the application of more advanced DNA-based tools for treatment train assessment and monitoring.

<p dir="ltr">Globally, soils hold more carbon than both the atmosphere and aboveground terrestrial biosphere combined. Changes in land use and land cover have the potential to alter soil carbon cycling throughout the soil profile, from the surface to meters deep, yet most studies focus only on the near surface impact (< 25 cm deep). This research bias toward shallow soil carbon cycling has ramifications for understanding the full impacts of agricultural and restoration management practices on soil organic and inorganic carbon dynamics. The primary objective of my thesis research is to evaluate the factors controlling the impact of deep-rooting perennial grass on soil carbon cycling during prairie restoration of soil following long term, row crop agriculture. Paired soil pits were established to compare the effects of restoration on soil C dynamics in a corn-soy cropping system (minimal tillage) and restored prairie sites in Nebraska and Illinois. At each site, soil organic carbon (SOC) and inorganic carbon (SIC) content, stock, and stable carbon isotope analysis were preformed to ~2 m depth to assess long term integrated C dynamics. Estimating the contribution of prairie carbon inputs to the SOC in the soil profile was examined using stable carbon isotopic signatures in the SOC in relation to the above ground vegetation changes in C₃ and C₄ photosynthetic pathway plant community composition. Comparative analysis of edaphic properties and soil carbon suggests that deep loess deposits in Nebraska permit enhanced water infiltration and SOC deposition to depths of ~100 cm in 60 years of prairie restoration. In Illinois, poorly drained, clay/lime rich soils on glacial till and a younger restored prairie age (15 years) restricted the influence of prairie restoration to the upper 30 cm. Comparing the δ¹³C values of SOC and SIC in each system demonstrated that SIC at each site is likely of lithogenic origin. This work indicates that the magnitude of influence of restoration management is dependent on edaphic properties inherited from geological and geomorphological controls. Future work should quantify root structures and redox properties to better understand the influence of rooting depth on soil carbon concentrations. Fast-cycling C dynamics can be assessed using continuous, in-situ CO₂ and O₂ soil gas concentration changes. The secondary objective of my thesis was to determine if manual, low temporal resolution gas sampling and analysis are a low cost and effective means of measuring soil O₂ and CO₂, by comparing it with data from in-situ continuous (hourly) sensors. Manual analysis of soil CO₂ and O₂ from field replicates of buried gas collection cups resulted in measurement differences from the continuous sensors. Measuring CO2 concentration with manual methods often resulted in higher concentrations than hourly, continuous measurements across all sites. Additionally, O₂ concentrations measured by manual methods were higher than hourly values in the restored prairie and less in agricultural sites. A variety of spatial variability, pressure perturbations, calibration offsets, and system leakage influences on both analysis methods could cause the discrepancy.</p>

Soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) are predominantly in organic form. Proteins/ peptides, as an important organic form of N, constitute a substantial part of soil organic matter. On one hand, proteins/peptides are an important N source for plants and microorganisms, particularly in soils where inorganic N is limited. On the other hand, their stabilization in soils by forming organo-mineral associates or macromolecule complex reduces the C loss as CO2 into the atmosphere. Therefore, studies on the turnover, abundance, composition, and stability of proteins/peptides are of crucial importance to agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. In the first part of this study, the bioavailability and distribution of amino acids, (building block of proteins/peptides), were investigated, in soils across the North-South and West-East transects of continental United States. The second part of this study aimed to understand the variations of organic C speciation in soils of continental United States. Previous investigations of the interactions between soil minerals and proteins/peptides were mostly limited to batch sorption experiments in labs, seldom of which gave the details at the molecular scales. Therefore, in the third part of this study, the molecular orientation of self-assembled oligopeptides on mineral surfaces was investigated by employing synchrotron based polarization-dependent Near Edge X-ray Adsorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy (NEXAFS) techniques. Specific aims of this study were: 1) to assess potentially bioavailable pool of proteinaceous compounds and the immediately bioavailable pool of free amino acids in surface and subsurface soils of various ecosystems; 2) to evaluate the relationship between environmental factors and levels/composition of the two pools; 3) to investigate the organic C speciation in soils of various land use; and 4) to understand molecular level surface organization of small peptides on mineral surfaces. The levels of free amino acids and hydrolysable amino acids which represent the potentially bioavailable pool of proteinaceous compounds in A-horizon soils were significantly high than in C-horizon soils due to the accumulation of organic matter in surface. On average, free amino acids accounted for less than 4 % of hydrolysable amino acids which represent the total proteinaceous compounds in soils. The composition of free amino acids was significantly different between surface soil and subsurface soil and was significantly influenced by mean annual temperature and precipitation. A relatively uniform composition of hydrolysable amino acids was observed irrespective of a wide range of land use. Significant variations were observed for the levels of free and hydrolysable amino acids along mean annual temperature and precipitation gradients, as well as among vegetation types of continental USA, suggesting levels of free and hydrolysable amino acids were associated with the above-ground biomass and root distribution. Organic C speciation investigation revealed the presence of carboxylic-C (38%), aliphatic-C (~ 22%), aromatic-C (~ 18%), O/N-alkyl-C (~ 16%), and phenolic-C (< 6%). Factors such as temperature and vegetation cover were revealed in this study to account for the fluctuations of the proportions of aromatic-C and phenolic-C, in particular. Phenolic-C may serve as a good indicator for the effect of temperature or vegetation on the composition of SOC. The average composition of soil organic C, over the continental scale, was relatively uniform over various soil ecosystems and between two soil horizons irrespective of surface organic C content. Polarization dependent NEXAFS analysis showed the oligopeptides tend to orient on mineral surface with an average tilt angle of 40 ° between the molecular chain and the mineral surface. / Ph. D.

Wetlands serve important ecosystem functions such as carbon sequestration but are often affected by disturbances like urban development, agriculture, and road building. For wetlands created to mitigate losses, it is important that the ecosystem functions successfully replicate those of natural wetlands. Created wetlands have frequently not provided these functions due to issues including low organic carbon (OC), high soil bulk density (BD), lost topsoil, incorrect hydrology, and failure of targeted vegetation establishment. Organic matter (OM) amendments help created wetlands attain these functions quicker, but, their long-term effects are seldom reported. This research's purpose was to measure the long-term effects of treatments at a sandy tidal freshwater wetland created in 2003 (WWE) and a fine-textured, non-tidal wetland created in 2002 (CCW). We tested OM treatments, topsoil amendment, and microtopography effects on soil and vegetation properties at WWE and OM treatments at CCW. Pedogenic changes in soil morphology, physical and chemical properties were detected by comparing data to previous studies at these sites. At both sites, litter and biomass parameters were measured to estimate total mass C. Herbaceous biomass was measured at WWE. At WWE, no long-term OM treatment effects from 78 or 156 Mg ha-1 were observed. Soils in pits had higher OC, lower BD, and lower chroma than soils on mounds. Sandy and loamy HSFI's developed at WWE within four years, but there were fewer sandy indicators after 12 years. Loamy HSFI's were lost at CCW from 2003 to 2016. Plots at WWE that were amended with topsoil had higher soil mass C than the sandy soil due to a finer texture, but total mass C did not vary. At CCW, long-term OM treatment effects were observed, including lower BD, higher soil mass C, and higher tree mass C with increasing compost rates up to 224 Mg ha-1. Overall, the ideal compost loading rate for constructed wetlands varied with wetland type and mitigation goals. Compost rates of 112 Mg ha-1 are sufficient for short term establishment of wetland vegetation and hydric soil properties, but higher rates near 224 Mg ha-1 may be required for effects that last over 10 years. / Ph. D.

Dissolved oxygen concentrations are declining in the bottom waters of many lakes around the world, posing critical water quality concerns. Throughout my dissertation, I assessed how bottom-water dissolved oxygen may mediate the effects of climate and land use change on water quality in lakes. First, I characterized causes of variation in summer bottom-water temperature and dissolved oxygen. I demonstrated that spring air temperatures may play a greater role than summer air temperatures in shaping summer bottom-water dynamics. I then characterized the effects of declining bottom-water oxygen concentrations across diverse scales of analysis (i.e., using microcosm incubations, whole-ecosystem oxygenation experiments, and data analysis of >600 widespread lakes). I found that low dissolved oxygen concentrations contributed to release of nutrients and organic carbon from lake sediments, potentially altering the role of lakes in global biogeochemical cycles. Importantly, I also found support for a previously-hypothesized Anoxia Begets Anoxia feedback, whereby bottom-water anoxia (i.e., no dissolved oxygen) in a given year promotes increasingly severe occurrences of anoxia in following summers. This finding demonstrates the need for forecasts of future oxygen dynamics in lakes, as management actions to preempt the first occurrence of anoxia will be more effective than actions to restore ecological function after oxygen concentrations have already declined. To build the capacity for such forecasts, I led a systematic review of ecological forecasting literature that characterized the state of the field, emerging best practices, and relative predictability of four ecological variables. Combined, my dissertation provides a mechanistic examination of the effects of climate change on water quality in lakes worldwide, ultimately helping to anticipate, mitigate, and preempt future water quality declines. / Doctor of Philosophy / Changes in climate and land use have caused dissolved oxygen concentrations to decline in many lakes around the world. These declines are concerning because low oxygen concentrations can cause substantial water quality problems. If we could better predict future water quality, we may be able to develop more effective lake management programs. To help meet this need, I analyzed how dissolved oxygen has mediated historical changes in water quality, and how dissolved oxygen may affect water quality in the future. I focused on bottom-water (rather than surface-water) dissolved oxygen, because bottom waters are more likely to experience very low oxygen concentrations that can lead to water quality problems. I started by assessing the drivers of summer bottom-water dissolved oxygen in 615 lakes. Across these lakes, spring air temperatures played a greater role than summer air temperatures in shaping summer bottom-water temperature and dissolved oxygen. I then characterized the effects of declining bottom-water oxygen concentrations using small-scale incubations in the lab, manipulations of oxygen concentrations in a whole reservoir, and data analysis across 656 lakes. I found that low dissolved oxygen conditions led to the release of nutrients and organic carbon from lake sediments, which may worsen water quality. Importantly, I also found support for a feedback effect, whereby low bottom-water dissolved oxygen in one summer perpetuates oxygen declines in following summers. This finding motivates the need for forecasts of future dissolved oxygen concentrations, as management actions to stop the first occurrence of low oxygen concentrations will be more effective than actions to restore water quality after oxygen concentrations have already started to decline. To build capacity for lake oxygen forecasts, I synthesized many published papers that have predicted future ecological states, and I documented proposed best practices in this emerging field. Ultimately, by advancing our understanding of how climate and land use change affect water quality in lakes worldwide, my dissertation research will help to anticipate, mitigate, and preempt future water quality declines.

Eine biochemische Indikation des Anteils exogener organischer Kohlenstoffquellen (EOC), der nach dem Eintrag potenziell im Boden verbleibt (Cpot) wurde entwickelt. Haupthypothese dieser Studie war, dass der Abbau von EOC durch die biochemische Zusammensetzung vorhergesagt werden kann, welche bei Pflanzenrückständen von der Kulturart, dem Pflanzenrückstandstyp sowie dem Anbausystem und im Allgemeinen vom Ausgangssubstrat organischer Düngestoffe und der EOC-Kategorie (pyrogen , mikrobiell und pflanzlich) beeinflusst wird. Zunächst wurden Pflanzenrückstände im Energiepflanzenanbau zur Biogasgewinnung (Restpflanze / Stroh, Stoppeln, Grobwurzeln, Feinwurzeln, natürlicher Bestandsabfall) von Mais, Sorghum, Sudangras, Wintergetreide, Hafer, Erbse in Einzel-, Zwei- und Mischkultursystemen betrachtet. In einem zweiten Schritt wurden Pflanzenrückstände im Allgemeinen mit organischen Düngern, Komposten, Rückständen aus anaerober Vergärung in der Biogasproduktion (Gärrückstände) und Biokohlen verglichen. Die biochemische Zusammensetzung von EOC wurde durch die Konzentrationen von Kohlenstoff- (C), Stickstoff (N), wasserlöslicher Kohlehydrate (WSC), Hemizellulose (HEM), Zellulose (CEL) und Lignin (LIC) in g pro kg Trockenmasse dargestellt. In Inkubationsversuchen wurde EOC gleichmäßig mit Boden vermischt und über 310 Tage die Zugabe-induzierte Kohlendioxid-Freisetzung gemessen. Cpot wurde als Grenzwert der Modellschätzung für die Inkubationsdaten bestimmt. Die Beziehung zwischen biochemischer Zusammensetzung und Cpot wurde durch die Partial-Least-Squares-Regression-Methode abgeleitet. Cpot unterschied sich stärker zwischen verschiedenen organischen Düngestoffen, als speziell zwischen verschiedenen Pflanzenrückständen und konnte durch die biochemische Zusammensetzung vorhergesagt werden. Der Indikator für Cpot (in g C pro kg EOC) wurde als Ipot = 269 + 13 N – 0.5 WSC + 0.7 CEL + 1.5 LIC für Pflanzenrückstände und im Allgemeinen als Ipot = 924 – 1.9 C + 2.0 LIC vorgeschlagen. / A biochemical indication for the fraction of exogenous organic carbon (EOC), potentially remaining in soil after application (Cpot) has been developed. Main hypothesis of this study was that decomposition of EOC can be predicted by the biochemical composition, which in case of plant residues is influenced by the crop residue type, crop species and agricultural management and in general depends on the original substrate and category (pyrogen, microbial, and plant-derived EOC) of organic materials. A first set of EOC was created, containing plant residues in energy crop cultivation for biogas production (shoot / straw, stubble, coarse root, fine root, and litter) of maize, sorghum, sudan grass, winter cereal, pea, and oats in single-, double- and intercropping systems. In a second set of EOC, plant residues in general were compared with other organic fertilisers, urban composts, residues of anaerobic fermentation in biogas production (digestates), and biochar. The biochemical composition of EOC was characterised by the concentrations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), hemicelluloses (HEM), cellulose (CEL), and lignin (LIC) in g per kg dry matter. In incubation experiments, EOC was homogeneously incorporated into soil and EOC-induced carbon dioxide-release was measured for 310 d. Cpot was determined as modelled limit for the incubation results. Finally, the relation between biochemical composition and Cpot of EOC was evaluated by the partial least squares regression method. Cpot largely varied between different types and categories of EOC, while less variation was obtained between different plant residues. The biochemical composition was predictive for Cpot (expressed as g C per kg EOC), proposing the biochemical indicator as Ipot = 269 + 13 N – 0.5 WSC + 0.7 CEL + 1.5 LIC specifically for plant residues and as Ipot = 924 – 1.9 C + 2.0 LIC for EOC in general.

Näringsämnena har en stor betydelse för sötvattnets organismer och ekosystem, varav de vanligaste näringsämnena som även är de viktigaste är fosfor (P), kväve (N) samt kol (C). Näringsämnena kommer inte enbart till sjön via nedfall och fixering utav mycket av näringsämnena kommer in till en sjö via vattendrag som till exempel älvar där Klarälven räknas in som en av Sveriges älvar. Syftet med denna studie är att ta fram en tidstrend mellan åren 1996 och 2013 för näringsämnena totalfosfor, totalkväve och TOC (totalt organiskt kol) för tio lokaler i norra Vänern för att kunna avgöra om de är lika, om det är något år som sticker ut, om det finns någon påverkan av Klarälven för de sjölokaler som tas upp och se om värdena av näringshalter kan kopplas till fiskförekomsten. Data samlades in och plottades i diagram för att kunna jämföras med varandra. Med sjölokalernas näringsvärde gjordes korrelationstester med älvarnas näringshalter för att se samband och därefter gjorde korrelation med sjölokalernas näringsvärden med andelen skördad fisk i samma lokaler. Resultatet visade att Ölman och Ölmeviken är väldigt eutrofierade medan resterande lokaler hade oligotrofa eller mesotrofa vatten och översvämningen i Karlstad 2000 visade avtryck i tidstrenden. Klarälvens påverkan på sjölokalerna visade sig inte vara så stor utan samband upptäcktes enbart mellan Kaplansådran och Hammarösjön för totalkvävet och för TOC upptäcktes samband mellan Hammarösjön och Sätterholmsfjärden med Kaplansådran. / The nutrient is very important for fresh water organisms and ecosystems, of which the most common nutrients also is the most important is phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C). The nutrients will not only come into a lake through deposition and fixation, much of the nutrients is coming into the lake through rivers such as Klarälven in Sweden. The purpose of this study is to develop a temporal and spatial trend during 1996-2013 for the nutrients total phosphorus, total nitrogen and TOC (total organic carbon) for ten premises in northern Lake Vänern to determine if they are equal, if it is a year that stands out from the rest, if there is any influence of Klarälven for the lake premises and see if the values of the nutrient concentrations can be linked to the presence of fish. Data were collected and plotted in graphs to be compared with each other. Correlation test was made with the lake premises nutrient values and rivers nutrient value to see if there was a connection between the locations, same correlation was also made between the lake premises nutrient values and the percentage of fish harvested in the same premises. The result showed that Ölman and Ölmeviken is very eutrophic, while the remaining premises hade oligotrophic or mesotrophic water and the flooding in Karlstad in 2000 showed imprint in the time trend. The impact of Klarälven on the lake premises proved to not be so great, but the context was detected only between Kaplansådran and Hammarösjön for the total nitrogen and correlation for TOC between Hammarösjön and Sätterholmsfjärden with Kaplansådran was also detected.

Die Uferfiltration (UF) ist eine potentielle Alternative zur konventionellen Oberflächenwasseraufbereitung in Indien, da Trübstoffe, pathogene Mikroorganismen und organische Wasserinhaltsstoffe effektiv entfernt werden. In dieser Arbeit wurde erstmals ein umfangreicher Überblick zu bestehenden UF-Anlagen in Indien erarbeitet. Für die Standorterkundung und -bewertung wurde ein Konzept erarbeitet, das an drei Standorten entlang des Ganges getestet und weiterentwickelt wurde. Das Konzept umfasst vier Stufen: Standortvorerkundung, Bestimmung von Grundwasserleiterparametern, Erfassung von hydraulischen und Beschaffenheits-parametern sowie numerische Grundwasser-strömungsmodellierung. Entlang des oberen Flusslaufes des Ganges (Haridwar und Srinagar) wurden günstige geohydraulische Verhältnisse identifiziert (kf = 10E-4 bis 10E-3 m/s, Grundwasser leitermächtigkeit 11 bis 20 m). Entlang des unteren Flusslaufes (Patna) gibt es in Abhängigkeit von der Mächtigkeit der Sedimentablagerungen im Ganges nur bei erhöhter Schleppkraft im Monsun eine gute hydraulische Verbindung zwischen dem Fluss und dem Grundwasserleiter. In Haridwar wurde der Uferfiltratanteil im Rohwasser mittels Isotopenanalysen (δ18O) und Leitfähigkeitsmessungen im Fluss- und Rohwasser ermittelt. Der Uferfiltratanteil in den auf einer Insel und südlich davon gelegenen Brunnen liegt bei bis zu 90%. An den untersuchten Standorten wird durch die UF eine effektive Entfernung von E. coli um 3,5 bis 4,4 Log10 und der Trübung bis >2 Log10 Einheiten erreicht. Eine Entfernung von 3 Log10 Einheiten wurde bereits bei einer Fließzeit des Uferfiltrats von zwei Tagen beobachtet. Die erhöhte Anzahl an Coliformen in einigen Brunnen am Standort Haridwar resultiert aus Verunreinigungen des landseitigen Grundwassers. Bei Hochwässern und Starkregenereignissen muss eine Kontamination durch den direkten Eintrag von Wasser durch undichte Brunnenabdeckungen, Risse in den Schächten bzw. unsachgemäßen Brunnenbau berücksichtigt werden. Die Anwendung des angepassten Untersuchungskonzepts an 15 weiteren UF-Standorten in Indien hat gezeigt, dass die niedrigen DOC-Konzentrationen im Flusswasser (0,9 bis 3,0 mg/L) und im Brunnenwasser (0,4 bis 2,3 mg/L) günstig für die Anwendung der UF sind. Bei erhöhten DOC-Konzentrationen (Vormonsun) im Flusswasser konnte in Delhi und Mathura im Monsun eine 50%ige Verminderung erreicht werden. Bei der Erkundung neuer UF-Standorte in bergigen Gebieten sind die Grundwasserleitermächtigkeit mit geophysikalischen Erkundungsverfahren, die Strömungsverhältnisse in den alluvialen Ablagerungen sowie lokale Hochwasserrisiken zu untersuchen. / Riverbank filtration or bank filtration (RBF / BF) is a potential alternative to the direct abstraction and conventional treatment of surface water by virtue of the effective removal of pathogens, turbidity, suspended particles and organic substances. A comprehensive overview of existing RBF systems in India has been compiled for the first time. To systematically select and investigate new and existing potential RBF sites in India, a methodological concept was developed and tested at three sites along the Ganga River. The four stages of the concept are: initial site-assessment, basic site-survey, monitoring of water quality and quantity parameters and determination of aquifer parameters and numerical groundwater flow modelling. Suitable geohydraulic conditions for RBF (hydraulic conductivity: 10E-4 to 10E-3 m/s, aquifer thickness: 11 to 20 m) exist along the upper course of the Ganga (Haridwar and Srinagar). Due to the presence of fine sediment layers beneath the river bed along the Ganga’s lower course (Patna), river-aquifer interaction occurs during increased shear stress on the riverbed in monsoon. The portion of bank filtrate abstracted by the wells in Haridwar was determined from isotope analyses (Oxygen 18) and electrical conductivity measurements of river and well water and is up to 90% for wells located on an island and between the river and a canal. The results were confirmed by groundwater flow modelling. A high removal of E. coli (3.5 to 4.4 Log10 units) and turbidity (>2 Log10 units) was observed at the investigated sites. An E. coli removal of 3 Log10 units was observed for short travel times of 2 days. Higher coliform counts in some wells occur due to contamination from landside groundwater. During floods and intense rainfall events, contamination of RBF wells from direct entry of flood water, seepage of surface runoff into the well through leaky covers, fissures in the well-heads / caissons and in-appropriately sealed well-bases has to be considered. The application of the adapted investigation concept to 15 other sites in India showed that the low DOC concentrations in river water (0.9 to 3.0 mg/L) and well-water (0.4 to 2.3 mg/L) are favourable for the application of RBF. A 50% decrease of the high (pre-monsoon) DOC concentration was observed during monsoon in Delhi and Mathura. For the exploration of new RBF sites in hilly / mountainous areas, investigations of the aquifer thickness using geophysical methods, subsurface flow conditions in the alluvial deposits and the risk from floods should be conducted.

Les réseaux trophiques jouent un rôle primordial dans la régulation des flux de matière et d’énergie au sein des écosystèmes. Dans le cadre des pratiques de recharge artificielle des aquifères, les biocénoses souterraines sont pleinement sollicitées et leur capacité à dégrader les flux de matière organique de surface conditionne le maintien de la qualité des eaux souterraines. L’objectif de ce travail est de déterminer l’influence d’une augmentation des flux de carbone organique dissous sur l’intensité des interactions trophiques entre les communautés microbiennes et les assemblages d’invertébrés au toit des nappes phréatiques rechargées artificiellement avec des eaux de ruissellement pluvial. A travers une approche expérimentale de terrain et de laboratoire, ce travail permet d’évaluer l’intensité des relations existant entre les flux de carbone organique dissous, les conditions environnementales, l’activité et la diversité de communautés microbiennes et l’abondance des communautés d’invertébrés. / Food webs play a crucial role in regulating the fluxes of matter and energy within ecosystems. Artificial recharge of aquifers relies heavily on the ability of groundwater biocenoses to degrade organic matter fluxes that is a condition to maintain the quality of groundwater. The objective of this work is to determine the impact of increased dissolved organic carbon supply on the trophic interactions between the microbial communities and invertebrate assemblages at the upper layers of groundwater artificially recharged with stormwater. Through a combined field and laboratory experimental approach, this work allows ranking the strength of relationship between dissolved organic carbon fluxes, environmental conditions, activity and diversity of microbial communities and abundance of invertebrate assemblages