Concepts of a survival and transport model of pathogenic bacteria and viruses in groundwater

For the assessment of the transport of bacteria and viruses in groundwater and for the interpretation of the available data, certain controlling factors should be determined. The survival time of bacteria and viruses in groundwater is different for the specific species and for the specific groundwater environment (temperature, groundwater chemistry and autochthonic population of microorganisms). The survival time depends on the specific elimination rate in a certain environment and on the initial concentration of the pollutants. The underground transport of the microorganisms which may be described by the general transport equation, must consider dispersion, adsorption and biological elimination. Since there is a wide range of variation in the available data, model calculations of the transport are necessary. Furthermore the effects of filtration and suffosion are considered to be of importance.