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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Southeast Watershed Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #103525
Title: MOVEMENT OF COLIFORM BACTERIA THROUGH RIPARIAN BUFFER SYSTEMS RECEIVING SWINE LAGOON WASTEWATER

Author
item Hubbard, Robert
item Entry, James
item THIES, JANICE - UNIV OF WESTERN SYDNEY

Submitted to: Agricultural Engineering International Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: HUBBARD, R.K., ENTRY, J.A., THIES, J.E. MOVEMENT OF COLIFORM BACTERIA THROUGH RIPARIAN BUFFER SYSTEMS RECEIVING SWINE LAGOON WASTEWATER. AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. ASAE Meeting Paper #992100. 1999.

Interpretive Summary: Over the past 10 years illnesses and death have been associated with E Coli and salmonella. This study investiaged fate and transport of coliforms when swine lagoon wastewater was applied to land. For the study a single pulse of lagoon wastewater was applied toreplicated plots during 4 different seasons. Fate and transport of coliforms was determined by sampling applied dwastewater, pulse of wastewater as it moved downslope via overland flow, rainfall induced surface runoff occurring within 1 or 2 days of wastewater application, soil water at 0.5 and 1.0 m depth and shallow groundwater at 1.5 and 2.0 depth. Research showed that populations of total and fecal coliforms in pulse of applied wastewater did not decline as water moved downslope; total and fecal coliforms in soil water and groundwater 20 to 30 m downslope from input source were slightly higher when buffer system had 2/3 rather than 1/3 of plot vegetation in grass rather than foret or planted wetland vegetation; total and fecal coliforms in groundwater declined approximately one order of magnitude every 7 days regardless of treatment or seaons; and total and fecal coliforms in soil water and groundwater positively correlated with soil water or groundwater tempera- ture and soil moisture. Results led to the overall conclusion that land application ofwastewater for crop fertilization is a viable option of disposal that if practiced with discretion does not lead to contamination of surface or groundwater with enteric bacteria.

Technical Abstract: Land application of animal waste is a means of disposing of waste and using it as a fertilizer to supply nutrients to crops. Animal waste is a major source of microorganisms pathogenic to humans. Liquid waste discharge into soil follows natural groundwater drainage patterns and may contaminate adjoining bodies of surface water. These same bodies of water are often used for sources of drinking water or for recreational activities. Surviva of total and fecal coliform bacteria in surface runoff, soil water and shallow groundwater after application of swine lagoon wastewater to 30 m long riparian filterstrips was investigated. A single pulse of wastewater was applied to replicated plots during 4 different seasons. Total and fecal coliforms were determined in wastewater source, pulse of wastewater as it flowed downslope, rainfall induced runoff within 2-3 days after wastewater application and shallow groundwater prior to and for the next 2 weeks after rapplication. Research revealed populations of total and fecal coliforms in pulse of applied wastewater did not decline as water moved downslope regardless of vegetation type or season; total and fecal coliforms in soil water and groundwater at 20 and 30 m from input source were slightly higher when buffer system had 2/3 rathern tah 1/3 of plot vegetation in grass rather than forest or planted wetland vegetation; total and fecal coliforms in groundwater declined approx. 1 order of magnitude every 7 days regard- less of treatment or season; and total and fecal coliforms in soil water and groundwater positively correlated with soil water or groundwater temperature and soil moisture.