Baseflow water chemistry between different septic system density groups was analyzed to understand how septic system usage impacts the water quality of the Yellow River Watershed located in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Seventy water samples were collected at baseflow conditions in the summer of 2006. The samples were analyzed for the abundance and distribution of chlorides, sulfates, nitrates, and specific conductance. Geographic Information Systems were used to determine sample collection sites, assign samples into density groups, and spatially analyze and display the results. Statistical methods were used to compare the results of each density group with all others,and to find any correlation of the anions with respect to specific conductance. Regression coefficient values between nitrate and specific conductance in all groups average 0.77 and the elevated nitrate concentrations in group four suggest a limited relationship between septic system density and baseflow water quality.

Gwinnett County, Georgia experienced rapid growth in the 1970’s without the infrastructure so septic systems were installed for residential homes. The number of septic systems grew to over 85,000 with a density of 487 septic systems per square mile. This study mapped the distribution of septic systems to determine regions of potential pathogen surface water. This study addressed what potential health risks do high density septic systems have on surface water quality and how can the history of Gwinnett County assist in future development in the Metropolitan Atlanta area? It was found that the density of septic systems has reduced the surface water quality for streams in the Yellow and Alcovy River basins. An average rainfall cause septic flushing and an increase in the fecal coliform. Other trends observed in the surface water quality of increased BOD, water temperature, and various metals also indicated this flushing effect.

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Between 1970 and 2010 almost one-third of drinking water related waterborne disease outbreaks reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were associated with systems dependent on untreated groundwater (i.e., most commonly, household wells). This is unsurprising, given that numerous past efforts to monitor household well water quality have indicated a high prevalence of fecal coliforms and/or E. coli at the point of use. Non-point sources of pollution, including septic tank leakages and poorly constructed drain fields, have been identified as the leading risk factors associated with outbreaks in households dependent on groundwater. Ideally, the integration of emerging source tracking (ST) analyses in well monitoring programs could be used to identify whether the presence of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) is associated with human or non-human sources in order to inform remediation strategies. However, the application of ST to groundwater has been limited, and the interpretation of data is consequently difficult. This research compares the fate and transport of FIB (E. coli and enterococci) with a chemical (optical brighteners, OB) and a molecular (Bacteroides HF183) ST target in order to evaluate their potential use as indicators of water quality issues in private drinking water systems. Eighteen PVC soil columns were constructed in an outdoor soil column facility to represent small-scale septic drainfield models; they received synchronized doses of primary-treated wastewater twice daily and were monitored bi-weekly over a 7-month period. Columns were subject to variable influent loading rates of wastewater effluent, and differing degrees of soil compromisation (i.e. synthetic solution channels). Results show that while column effluent volume and constituent levels were related to dosage, they were not always related to soil compromisation (ANOVA, p < 0.05). E. coli and enterococci concentrations were associated with effluent volume and OB levels (Spearman's rank, p < 0.05). The presence of Bacteroides HF183 was not strongly associated with the other measured ST target levels (Point-biserial correlation, p < 0.05). Findings from this study suggest surface water ST methodologies may have a role in groundwater quality monitoring efforts. Quantifying the relative recovery of ST targets and FIB from controlled groundwater simulations will assist in the development of strategies to identify non-point sources of human wastewater pollution efficiently and effectively to inform remediation. / Master of Science

Ground water resources are heavily used for drinking water supply and often as a receptacle for waste water. One concern is the possible contamination of wetland areas by ground water receiving septic system infiltration. To investigate this, two tracer studies were performed using the bacteriophage PRD-1 by seeding septic systems adjacent to wetlands with the phage and monitoring migration towards wetland areas. Transport velocities were evaluated based on appearance of tracer in sampling wells at various distances from the injection point. Velocities were estimated to be 0.25 m/d and 0.4 m/d at the two sites. Some retardation with respect to the conservative tracer SF6 was observed, with a factor of about 1.5. Due to dry conditions, the water table was well below surface, so transport of the virus into surface water was not observed. Survival of public-health-related microorganisms in ground water is also a concern. The effects of temperature and total dissolved solids (TDS) on survival of 5 groups of indicator organisms were evaluated in controlled experiments. TDS did not have significant effects on inactivation of these microbes up to 1000 mg/l, but there was indication of reduced inactivation of enterococci at TDS concentrations of 3000 mg/l. Increased temperature consistently resulted in more rapid inactivation. Survival in aquifer and reservoir water samples was also evaluated, and significant effects due to water type, temperature, and pasteurization treatment were observed. Inactivation was more rapid in surface water sources, and pasteurization enhanced survival. For enterococci and DNA coliphage, pasteurization effects were more pronounced in surface water. DNA coliphage and perhaps fecal coliform appeared to be the more-conservative indicator organisms for aquifer injection monitoring. Lastly, it was observed that inactivation rates were considerably slower in pore water of saturated limestone than in the bulk water column of similar water sources and conditions, particularly for enterococci and fecal coliform.

Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; contains 322 pages. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: Ground water resources are heavily used for drinking water supply and often as a receptacle for waste water. One concern is the possible contamination of wetland areas by ground water receiving septic system infiltration. To investigate this, two tracer studies were performed using the bacteriophage PRD-1 by seeding septic systems adjacent to wetlands with the phage and monitoring migration towards wetland areas. Transport velocities were evaluated based on appearance of tracer in sampling wells at various distances from the injection point. Velocities were estimated to be 0.25 m/d and 0.4 m/d at the two sites. Some retardation with respect to the conservative tracer SF6 was observed, with a factor of about 1.5. Due to dry conditions, the water table was well below surface, so transport of the virus into surface water was not observed. Survival of public-health-related microorganisms in ground water is also a concern. / ABSTRACT: The effects of temperature and total dissolved solids (TDS) on survival of 5 groups of indicator organisms were evaluated in controlled experiments. TDS did not have significant effects on inactivation of these microbes up to 1000 mg/l, but there was indication of reduced inactivation of enterococci at TDS concentrations of 3000 mg/l. Increased temperature consistently resulted in more rapid inactivation. Survival in aquifer and reservoir water samples was also evaluated, and significant effects due to water type, temperature, and pasteurization treatment were observed. Inactivation was more rapid in surface water sources, and pasteurization enhanced survival. For enterococci and DNA coliphage, pasteurization effects were more pronounced in surface water. DNA coliphage and perhaps fecal coliform appeared to be the more-conservative indicator organisms for aquifer injection monitoring. / ABSTRACT: Lastly, it was observed that inactivation rates were considerably slower in pore water of saturated limestone than in the bulk water column of similar water sources and conditions, particularly for enterococci and fecal coliform. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

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