This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Borchardt, M. A.
Right arrow Articles by Hunt, R. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Borchardt, M. A.
Right arrow Articles by Hunt, R. J.
GeoRef
Right arrow GeoRef Citation
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Borchardt, M. A.
Right arrow Articles by Hunt, R. J.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2004, p. 5937-5946, Vol. 70, No. 10
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.10.5937-5946.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Vulnerability of Drinking-Water Wells in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Enteric-Virus Contamination from Surface Water Contributions

Mark A. Borchardt,1* Nathaniel L. Haas,1,2 and Randall J. Hunt3

Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield,1 Department of Microbiology, University of Wisconsin—La Crosse, La Crosse,2 the United States Geological Survey, Middleton, Wisconsin3

Received 11 December 2003/ Accepted 27 May 2004

Human enteric viruses can contaminate municipal drinking-water wells, but few studies have examined the routes by which viruses enter these wells. In the present study, the objective was to monitor the municipal wells of La Crosse, Wisconsin, for enteric viruses and determine whether the amount of Mississippi River water infiltrating the wells was related to the frequency of virus detection. From March 2001 to February 2002, one river water site and four wells predicted by hydrogeological modeling to have variable degrees of surface water contributions were sampled monthly for enteric viruses, microbial indicators of sanitary quality, and oxygen and hydrogen isotopes. 18O/16O and 2H/1H ratios were used to determine the level of surface water contributions. All samples were collected prior to chlorination at the wellhead. By reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), 24 of 48 municipal well water samples (50%) were positive for enteric viruses, including enteroviruses, rotavirus, hepatitis A virus (HAV), and noroviruses. Of 12 river water samples, 10 (83%) were virus positive by RT-PCR. Viable enteroviruses were not detected by cell culture in the well samples, although three well samples were positive for culturable HAV. Enteroviruses detected in the wells by RT-PCR were identified as several serotypes of echoviruses and group A and group B coxsackieviruses. None of the well water samples was positive for indicators of sanitary quality, namely male-specific and somatic coliphages, total coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, and fecal enterococci. Contrary to expectations, viruses were found in all wells regardless of the level of surface water contributions. This result suggests that there were other unidentified sources, in addition to surface water, responsible for the contamination.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, 1000 North Oak Ave., Marshfield, WI 54449. Phone: (715) 389-3758. Fax: (715) 389-3808. E-mail: borchardt.mark{at}mcrf.mfldclin.edu.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2004, p. 5937-5946, Vol. 70, No. 10
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.10.5937-5946.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Pang, L. (2009). Microbial Removal Rates in Subsurface Media Estimated From Published Studies of Field Experiments and Large Intact Soil Cores. J. Environ. Qual. 38: 1531-1559 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Verheyen, J., Timmen-Wego, M., Laudien, R., Boussaad, I., Sen, S., Koc, A., Uesbeck, A., Mazou, F., Pfister, H. (2009). Detection of Adenoviruses and Rotaviruses in Drinking Water Sources Used In Rural Areas of Benin, West Africa. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 2798-2801 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»