AWWA WQTC53013

Enteric viruses are the most likely human pathogens to contaminate groundwater.Their extremely small size and slow die-off rates allow them to infiltrate and survive in soils, eventually reaching aquifers. Recent studies monitoring groundwater for enteric viruses have focused on community and non-community wells. None of the studies have investigated the incidence of viruses in private household wells. However, these wells may be more susceptible to viral contamination than community wells because they are shallower, may be less carefully maintained, and can belocated in close proximity to areas with high loading rates of human excreta. To accurately assess the extent of groundwater contamination with viruses, private wells need to be examined. The objective of this study was to estimate the occurrence of human enteric viruses in private household wells located near sites with highloading rates of human excreta, specifically septage landspreading sites and subdivisions with high densities of septic systems. The rationale for this approach was that if wells near sources of enteric viruses are not contaminated, then other wells in regions with lower excreta loading rates would not likely be contaminated. Includes 28 references, table.