FURI | Fall 2022

Movement and Quantification of E. coli in a Managed Aquifer Recharge Site

This study quantifies Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water sources in a managed aquifer recharge site and characterizes its movement through clay loam. E. coli is a typical fecal indicator bacteria in wastewater, and certain strains pose a risk of gastrointestinal illness. This study was conducted at Riparian Preserve in Gilbert, Arizona, where there is a risk of groundwater contamination due to downward E. coli movement in the subsurface. This site was selected to inform microbial transport and the potential risk of E. coli exposure by combining site measurements, lab-scale soil column experiments, and numerical simulations.