Microbiological monitoring and classification of karst springs

The use of groundwater as a drinking water resource requires knowledge of its microbiological status and quality. In contrast to conventional microbiological monitoring of groundwater, the present study not only considers faecal indicator bacteria, but also covers a wide spectrum of microorganisms, including bacterial pathogens (verotoxin-producing E. coli, Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp., as well as Pseudomonas aeruginosa), human enteric viruses (norovirus, enterovirus, rotavirus and adenovirus) and parasitic protozoa (Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts). Samples collected at karst sites of the Swiss National Groundwater Monitoring network revealed the presence of a large diversity of microorganisms of faecal origin, the occurrence of which could be linked to specific hydrogeological settings and situations. The findings represent a ‘snapshot’ of the microbiological status at the monitoring sites and provide a national overview of the types and presence of microorganisms in Swiss karst groundwater. In addition to microbiological parameters related to faecal contamination, the overall bacterial load in groundwater was assessed using cell density measurements (i.e. total cell count), which yielded typical ranges for this ecological parameter. The study highlights differential vulnerability of karst groundwater to microbiological contamination, as well as its relationship with the microbial biocenoses, i.e. the interplay of allochthonous and autochthonous microbial components. On the basis of this data set, a microbiological classification of karst aquifers is proposed and discussed with respect to spring dynamics and vulnerability.     

Review: From multi-scale conceptualization to a classification system for inland groundwater-dependent ecosystems

Aquifers provide water, nutrients and energy with various patterns for many aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) are increasingly recognized for their ecological and socio-economic values. The current knowledge of the processes governing the ecohydrological functioning of inland GDEs is reviewed, in order to assess the key drivers constraining their viability. These processes occur both at the watershed and emergence scale. Recharge patterns, geomorphology, internal geometry and geochemistry of aquifers control water availability and nutritive status of groundwater. The interface structure between the groundwater system and the biocenoses may modify the groundwater features by physicochemical or biological processes, for which biocenoses need to adapt. Four major types of aquifer-GDE interface have been described: springs, surface waters, peatlands and terrestrial ecosystems. The ecological roles of groundwater are conditioned by morphological characteristics for spring GDEs, by the hyporheic zone structure for surface waters, by the organic soil structure and volume for peatland GDEs, and by water-table fluctuation and surface floods in terrestrial GDEs. Based on these considerations, an ecohydrological classification system for GDEs is proposed and applied to Central and Western-Central Europe, as a basis for modeling approaches for GDEs and as a tool for groundwater and landscape management.     

Overview of groundwater sources and water-supply systems,and associated microbial pollution,in Finland,Norway and Iceland

The characteristics of groundwater systems and groundwater contamination in Finland, Norway and Iceland are presented, as they relate to outbreaks of disease. Disparities among the Nordic countries in the approach to providing safe drinking water from groundwater are discussed, and recommendations are given for the future. Groundwater recharge is typically high in autumn or winter months or after snowmelt in the coldest regions. Most inland aquifers are unconfined and therefore vulnerable to pollution, but they are often without much anthropogenic influence and the water quality is good. In coastal zones, previously emplaced marine sediments may confine and protect aquifers to some extent. However, the water quality in these aquifers is highly variable, as the coastal regions are also most influenced by agriculture, sea-water intrusion and urban settlements resulting in challenging conditions for water abstraction and supply. Groundwater is typically extracted from Quaternary deposits for small and medium municipalities, from bedrock for single households, and from surface water for the largest cities, except for Iceland, which relies almost entirely on groundwater for public supply. Managed aquifer recharge, with or without prior water treatment, is widely used in Finland to extend present groundwater resources. Especially at small utilities, groundwater is often supplied without treatment. Despite generally good water quality, microbial contamination has occurred, principally by norovirus and Campylobacter, with larger outbreaks resulting from sewage contamination, cross-connections into drinking water supplies, heavy rainfall events, and ingress of polluted surface water to groundwater.     

岩溶地下水脆弱性评价研究

岩溶地下水脆弱性评价是基于保护岩溶含水层从而有效地管理和利用地下水提出的有效方法和手段。岩溶含水层的特殊性导致污染物极易进入地下含水层,并在岩溶管道中快速、远距离地运移。与其他基岩第四系含水层相比,岩溶含水层的保护面临更大的挑战。介绍了地下水脆弱性的概念;以及岩溶地下水脆弱性的相关问题,并讨论了岩溶区脆弱性评价应考虑的一些问题。     

Quantification of organic pollutant degradation in contaminated aquifers using compound specific stable isotope analysis – Review of recent developments

Compound specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) has been established as a viable tool for proving, characterizing and assessing degradation of organic pollutants within contaminated aquifers. The fractionation of stable isotopes during contaminant degradation leads to observable shifts in stable isotope ratios which can serve as an indicator for in situ pollutant degradation and allow for a quantitative assessment by means of the so-called Rayleigh (distillation) equation.This review highlights the recent developments of the Rayleigh equation approach for quantifying in situ degradation of organic pollutants in contaminated aquifers. The advantages and limitations of the Rayleigh equation approach are discussed and suggestions for improvements are given. Concepts are provided to estimate the uncertainty due to errors or variability of input parameters and how to deal with such uncertainty. Moreover, the applicability of the Rayleigh equation approach is evaluated regarding the heterogeneity and complexity of groundwater systems. For such systems, the review discusses the relevance of non-destructive processes, which affect the concentration (e.g., dispersive mixing) and potentially also the stable isotope ratio of contaminants (e.g., sorption, volatilization), and the resulting implications for the Rayleigh equation approach.     

Quantification of organic pollutant degradation in contaminated aquifers using compound specific stable isotope analysis - Review of recent developments

Compound specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) has been established as a viable tool for proving, characterizing and assessing degradation of organic pollutants within contaminated aquifers. The fractionation of stable isotopes during contaminant degradation leads to observable shifts in stable isotope ratios which can serve as an indicator for in situ pollutant degradation and allow for a quantitative assessment by means of the so-called Rayleigh (distillation) equation.This review highlights the recent developments of the Rayleigh equation approach for quantifying in situ degradation of organic pollutants in contaminated aquifers. The advantages and limitations of the Rayleigh equation approach are discussed and suggestions for improvements are given. Concepts are provided to estimate the uncertainty due to errors or variability of input parameters and how to deal with such uncertainty. Moreover, the applicability of the Rayleigh equation approach is evaluated regarding the heterogeneity and complexity of groundwater systems. For such systems, the review discusses the relevance of non-destructive processes, which affect the concentration (e.g., dispersive mixing) and potentially also the stable isotope ratio of contaminants (e.g., sorption, volatilization), and the resulting implications for the Rayleigh equation approach.     

Review: Deep groundwater research with focus on Germany

While research focuses mainly on the intensively used shallower aquifers, only a little research has addressed groundwater movement in deeper aquifers. This is mainly because of the negligible relevance of deep groundwater for daily usage and the great efforts and high costs associated with its access. In the last few decades, the discussion about deep geological final repositories for radioactive waste has generated strong demand for the investigation and characterization of deep-lying aquifers. Other utilizations of the deeper underground have been added to the discussion: the use of geothermal energy, potential CO₂ storage, and sources of potable water as an alternative to the geogenic or anthropogenic contaminated shallow aquifers. As a consequence, the fast growing requirement for knowledge and understanding of these dynamic systems has spurred the research on deep groundwater systems and accordingly the development of suitable test methods, which currently show considerable limitations. This review provides an overview of the history of deep groundwater research. Deep groundwater flow and research in the main hydrogeological units is presented based on six projects and the methods used. The study focuses on Germany and two other locations in Europe.     

Methods for determining the in situ hydraulic conductivity of shallow aquitards – an overview

Shallow clay-rich aquitards limit groundwater recharge to underlying aquifers, but they also protect the aquifers from contamination. The bulk hydraulic conductivity of such shallow aquitards can range from less than 1 mm/year to more than 100 m/year and may be much greater than the hydraulic conductivity of small intact samples of the aquitard material. This enhanced hydraulic conductivity diminishes the qualities of the aquitards for the protection of underlying aquifers but allows a higher rate of recharge. For aquifers that are overlain by aquitards, management and protection of groundwater resources may be critically dependent on reliable determinations of aquitard permeability. A variety of methods for determining bulk hydraulic conductivities of shallow clay aquitards is available; each has drawbacks and advantages, and each is based on simplifying assumptions. These methods include slug tests, pumping tests, response of the aquitard to mechanical loading, and analysis of natural pore-pressure fluctuations. Several of the commonly used methods require an independent measurement of specific storage. Laboratory methods for determining specific storage are probably not representative of in situ conditions and may lead to overestimation of aquitard permeability. Much of the theory developed to date depends on the assumption that horizontal displacement of the solid material is negligible, and this may not be a valid assumption for highly deformable media such as clay aquitards. However, with judicious selection of the most suitable methods for a particular site, good test design, careful instrumentation, and respect for the underlying assumptions, reliable determinations of aquitard permeability can be obtained. Electronic Publication     

Groundwater recharge in semi-arid carbonate aquifers under intensive use: the Estepa Range aquifers (Seville, southern Spain)

Quantifying groundwater recharge in carbonate aquifers located in semi-arid regions and subjected to intensive groundwater use is no easy task. One reason is that there are very few available methods suitable for application under such climatic conditions, and moreover, some of the methods that might be applied were originally designed with reference to non-carbonate aquifers. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the fact that, in any given aquifer, groundwater recharge is modified by the groundwater exploitation. Here we focus on four methods selected to assess their suitability for estimating groundwater recharge in carbonate aquifers affected by intensive exploitation. The methods were applied to the Estepa Range aquifers of Seville, southern Spain, which are subjected to different degrees of exploitation. Two conventional methods were used: chloride mass balance and daily soil–water balance. These results were compared with the results obtained by means of two non-conventional methods, designed for application to the carbonate aquifers of southern Spain: the APLIS and ERAS methods. The results of the different methods are analogous, comparable to those obtained in nearby non-exploited carbonate aquifers, confirming their suitability for use with carbonate aquifers in either natural or exploited regimes in a semi-arid climate.     

Saltwater intrusion in coastal regions of North America

Saltwater has intruded into many of the coastal aquifers of the United States, Mexico, and Canada, but the extent of saltwater intrusion varies widely among localities and hydrogeologic settings. In many instances, the area contaminated by saltwater is limited to small parts of an aquifer and to specific wells and has had little or no effect on overall groundwater supplies; in other instances, saltwater contamination is of regional extent and has resulted in the closure of many groundwater supply wells. The variability of hydrogeologic settings, three-dimensional distribution of saline water, and history of groundwater withdrawals and freshwater drainage has resulted in a variety of modes of saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers. These include lateral intrusion from the ocean; upward intrusion from deeper, more saline zones of a groundwater system; and downward intrusion from coastal waters. Saltwater contamination also has occurred along open boreholes and within abandoned, improperly constructed, or corroded wells that provide pathways for vertical migration across interconnected aquifers. Communities within the coastal regions of North America are taking actions to manage and prevent saltwater intrusion to ensure a sustainable source of groundwater for the future. These actions can be grouped broadly into scientific monitoring and assessment, engineering techniques, and regulatory approaches.     

Use of molecular approaches in hydrogeological studies: the case of carbonate aquifers in southern Italy

Waterborne pathogens represent a significant health risk in both developed and developing countries with sensitive sub-populations including children, the elderly, neonates, and immune-compromised people, who are particularly susceptible to enteric infections. Annually, approximately 1.8 billion people utilize a faecally contaminated water source, and waterborne diseases are resulting in up to 2.1 million human mortalities globally. Although groundwater has traditionally been considered less susceptible to contamination by enteric pathogens than surface water due to natural attenuation by overlying strata, the degree of microbial removal attributable to soils and aquifers can vary significantly depending on several factors. Thus, accurate assessment of the variable presence and concentration of microbial contaminants, and the relative importance of potentially causative factors affecting contaminant ingress, is critical in order to develop effective source (well) and resource (aquifer) protection strategies. “Traditional” and molecular microbiological study designs, when coupled with hydrogeological, hydrochemical, isotopic, and geophysical methods, have proven useful for analysis of numerous aspects of subsurface microbial dynamics. Accordingly, this overview paper presents the principal microbial techniques currently being employed (1) to predict and identify sources of faecal contamination in groundwater, (2) to elucidate the dynamics of contaminant migration, and (3) to refine knowledge about the hydrogeological characteristics and behaviours of aquifer systems affected by microbial contamination with an emphasis on carbonate aquifers, which represent an important global water supply. Previous investigations carried out in carbonate aquifers in southern Italy are discussed.     

当地下水邂逅DNA:石油类有机污染及其生物降解

地下水科学与工程研究发展到今日,已经成为一门涉及多个领域的综合性学科。地下水污染的控制和修复研究更需要跨学科的技术和知识支持,而生物修复作为一种高效低耗修复的技术成为环境领域的研究热点。微生物因其自身特性及其对污染的降解主导特征对确定有机物污染场地的永续修复具有重要意义。简要地综述了地下水有机污染及其原位修复、有机污染物和地下环境微生物的交互作用,进一步聚焦生物降解机制、生物修复和细菌研究。在此基础上以某石油污染场地地下水为例,进行了地下水中分离微生物菌株及其降解特征的实验研究。结果表明:放线菌降解效果最好,细菌和真菌次之;两两组合降解效果好于单菌,表明存在协同作用;不同菌株混合降解率较低,表明具有拮抗作用。通过动力学实验得出对TPH的降解符合一级反应动力学方程及其降解速度和降解半衰期。就微生物对有机组分降解而言,烷烃和总石油烃降解规律相似;难降解组分降解率低,后期因烷烃转化使其浓度升高;苯浓度变化不大。微生物活性实验表明:活菌总数和脱氢酶活性与降解率呈正相关变化。运用生理生化及分子生物学方法鉴定得出了具体的菌种。     

跨边界含水层问题研究

跨边界含水层作为地下水资源系统的一部分，涉及国家或地区之间的利益关系。文章分析了跨边界含水层问题，针对亚洲东部、中部和南部地下水系统，圈定了具有重要意义的跨国界含水层9处。对这些含水层，特别是我国边界上的黑龙江一阿穆尔河平原和伊犁河谷含水层进行了评价；对我国跨省界含水层进行了初步分析。研究跨边界含水层问题，对管理国家或地区之间共有的珍贵地下水资源，建设持久和平、共同繁荣的和谐社会具有重要的意义。     

Review: Carbonate aquifers and future perspectives of karst hydrogeology in India

About 3 % of India’s total land surface is occupied by carbonate rocks which are mostly karstified and constitute a significant source of groundwater. The groundwater drawn from these aquifers matches the water demand of ~35 million people living in 106 districts of the country and also the water needs of livestock, irrigation and industry. The studies on karst in India carried out so far have mostly addressed geology, hydrology and groundwater contamination. A literature survey suggests that there is a need for detailed research, applying new approaches and techniques for proper carbonate aquifer identification, characterization and management. Such specific approaches will improve modeling, exploitation and protection of karst groundwater. An overview of the research carried out on groundwater resources of karst formations in India is presented, which also throws light on the protection of karst aquifers from existing anthropogenic activities such as mining and groundwater over-exploitation.     

Management of freshwater lenses on small Pacific islands

The nature of shallow aquifers and the impacts of seawater intrusion in small islands within the Pacific Ocean are reviewed. Many Pacific islands rely on shallow fresh groundwater lenses in highly permeable aquifers, underlain and surrounded by seawater, as their principal freshwater source. It is argued here that, in small islands, the nature of fresh groundwater lenses and their host aquifers coupled with frequent natural and ever-present anthropogenic threats make them some of the most vulnerable aquifer systems in the world. A simple steady-state approximation is used to provide insight into the key climatic, hydrogeological, physiographic, and management factors that influence the quantity of, and saline intrusion into freshwater lenses. Examples of the dynamic nature of freshwater lenses as they respond to these drivers are given. Natural and human-related threats to freshwater lenses are discussed. Long dry periods strongly coupled to sea surface temperatures impact on the quantity and salinity of fresh groundwater. The vulnerability of small island freshwater lenses dictates careful assessment, vigilant monitoring, appropriate development, and astute management. Strategies to aid future groundwater sustainability in small islands are presented and suggested improvements to donor and aid programs in water are also advanced.     

基于单体多维稳定同位素分析的地下水有机污染研究进展

单体多维稳定同位素分析技术(MD-CSIA)能够更加深入地解析地下水有机污染物的衰减过程,为监测目标污染物原位修复效果和探究其微生物降解机制提供技术支持。文中分析了MD-CSIA技术在地下水有机污染研究中的应用动态,讨论了利用该技术进行有机污染物来源辨识及其迁移转化过程示踪的可行性,着重指出该技术可有效判识有机污染物在地下水中的转化途径并量化其转化程度,最后预测了MD-CSIA技术应用研究的发展趋势。     

Tracing groundwater flow and sources of organic carbon in sandstone aquifers using fluorescence properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM)

The fluorescence properties of groundwaters from sites in two UK aquifers, the Penrith Sandstone of Cumbria and the Sherwood Sandstone of South Yorkshire, were investigated using excitation–emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy. Both aquifers are regionally important sources of public supply water and are locally impacted by pollution. The Penrith Sandstone site is in a rural setting while the Sherwood Sandstone site is in suburban Doncaster. Fluorescence analysis of samples from discrete sample depths in the Penrith Sandstone shows decreasing fulvic-like intensities with depth and also shows a good correlation with CFC-12, an anthropogenic groundwater tracer. Tryptophan-like fluorescence centres in the depth profile may also provide evidence of rapid routing of relatively recent applications of organic slurry along fractures. Fluorescence analysis of groundwater sampled from multi-level piezometers installed within the Sherwood Sandstone aquifer also shows regions of tryptophan-like and relatively higher fulvic-like signatures. The fluorescence intensity profile in the piezometers shows tryptophan-like peaks at depths in excess of 50 m and mirrors the pattern exhibited by microbial species and CFCs highlighting the deep and rapid penetration of modern recharge due to rapid fracture flow. Fluorescence analysis has allowed the rapid assessment of different types and relative abundances of dissolved organic matter (DOM), and the fingerprinting of different sources of organic C within the groundwater system. The tryptophan:fulvic ratios found in the Penrith Sandstone were found to be between 0.5 and 3.0 and are characteristic of ratios from sheep waste sources. The Sherwood Sandstone has the lowest ratios (0.2–0.4) indicating a different source of DOM, most likely a mixture of terrestrial and microbial sources, although there is little evidence of pollution from leaking urban sewage systems. Results from these two studies suggest that intrinsic fluorescence may be used as a proxy for, or complementary tool to, other groundwater investigation methods in helping provide a conceptual model of groundwater flow and identifying different sources of DOM within the groundwater system.     

Subterranean microorganisms and radioactive waste disposal in Sweden

In 1987, microbiology became a part of the Swedish scientific program for the safe disposal of high level nuclear waste (HLW). The goal of the microbiology program is to understand how subterranean microorganisms will interact with the performance of a future HLW repository. The Swedish research program on subterranean microbiology has mainly been performed at two sites in granitic rock aquifers at depths ranging from 70 m down to 1240 m, the Stripa research mine in the middle of Sweden and the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (HRL) situated on the south eastern coast of Sweden. Some work has also been performed in cooperation with other national or international research groups in Sweden, Canada and at the natural analogue sites Oklo in Gabon and Maqarin in Jordan. The following conclusions are drawn. There is a very high probability of the existence of a deep subterranean biosphere in granitic rock. The documented presence of a deep biosphere implies that relevant microbial reactions should be included in the performance assessment for a HLW repository. A HLW repository will be situated in a subterranean biosphere that is independent of solar energy and photosynthetically produced organic carbon. The ultimate limitation for an active microbial life will be the availability of hydrogen as energy source over time, and hydrogen has indeed been found in most deep groundwaters. Sulphide producing microorganisms are active in environments typical for a Swedish HLW repository, and the potential for microbial corrosion of the copper canisters must be considered. The bentonite buffer around the copper canisters will be a hostile environment for most microbes due to the combination of radiation, heat and low water availability. Discrete microbial species can cope with each of these constraints, and it is theoretically possible that sulphide producing microbes may be active inside a buffer, although the experiments conducted thus far have shown the opposite. Microorganisms have the capability to enzymatically recombine radiolysis oxidants formed by radiation of water. It has earlier been concluded that the migration of radionuclides due to sorption on microorganisms can be neglected. The influence of microbially produced complexing agents remains to be studied at realistic conditions in deep groundwater. Microorganisms have been found in natural alkaline groundwaters, but it could not be conclusively demonstrated that they were in situ viable and growing, rather than just transported there from neutral groundwater. A possible hypothesis based on the obtained results from investigations of natural alkaline groundwaters is that fresh concrete may be a bit too extreme for active life even for the most adaptable microbe – but this remains to be demonstrated.     

“逐步逼近式”找水方法及其在缺水地区水文地质勘查中的应用

在缺水地区开展找水水文地质勘查工作,如何提高成井供水效率,科学的找水方法至关重要。笔者介绍近10年来在我国西部地区300多个缺水村镇找水水文地质勘查实践中,总结出＂逐步逼近式＂找水方法。主要包括利用前人调查成果通过预研究确定找水方向、应用遥感解译方法圈定找水靶区、辅以简易快速物探方法的中比例尺地面调查确定富水地段、详细地面调查与物探组合技术结合优化确定钻探孔位、不同含水层选择相应钻探方法和成井工艺5个步骤。以及针对不同找水区在遥感数据源选择、简易快速物探方法应用与多方法有效组合探测的技术要点。     

跨边界含水层研究

跨边界含水层作为地下水资源系统的一部分,与国际河流同样涉及国家或地区之间的利益关系。文中分析和总结了近年来对跨边界含水层研究的进展;对亚洲东部、中部和南部地下水系统进行了分析,圈定了具有重要意义的跨国界含水层9处,对这些含水层,特别是中国边界上的黑龙江—阿穆尔河平原和伊犁河谷含水层进行了评价;对中国跨省界含水层进行了初步分析。跨边界含水层问题的提出和研究,对管理国家或地区之间共有的珍贵地下水资源,建设持久和平、共同繁荣的和谐社会具有重要的意义。