FAS Abstracts 2004 Meeting Page

Agricultural Sciences (AGR): AGR-9

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Fecal microbial indicators in groundwater. M. MONTIEL (1), A. DHOPLE (2), and T. BELANGER (1). (1) Department of Marine and Environmental Systems. (2) Department of Biological Sciences. Florida Tech, Melbourne, FL, 32901. A total of 296 samples of groundwater were collected at five residential sites adjacent to Crane Creek, Melbourne, FL. Three of these sites were at homes served by on-site disposable systems (OSDS). The samples were analyzed for fecal indicator bacteria and coliphages.  Fecal coliforms (FC) were present in 20.6% of the samples, and enterococcus (ENT) in 41.6%. Coliphages were detected in more than 90% of the samples. At two of the OSDS sites, FC frequency was twice as high as control sites, where FC was only found in a piezometer nearest to the surface water. The highest ENT frequency was found at one of the OSDS sites. Coliphage frequency was high at all sites, with values of more than 85%. Groundwater samples showed fecal contamination and OSDS may be one of the sources.