Reconnaissance for microbial activity in the Magothy aquifer, Bay Park, New York, four years after artificial recharge

Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey
Prepared in cooperation with the Nassau County Department of Public Works
By:  and 

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Abstract

Tertiary-treated sewage effluent was injected into the Magothy aquifer at Bay Park, Long Island, N.Y., between 1968 and 1973. In 1977, the microbial flora in water samples from the injection well and from three nearby wells were surveyed. Differences in the composition of the microbial flora among the four wells were found. A bacterial community dominated by facultative and obligate anaerobes, including two Clostridium species and methanogenic bacteria, was found at a well 6.1 m from the injection well. By contrast, except for isolation of Clostridium sphenoides from a well 30 m away, only obligate aerobes and facultative anaerobes were found in water from the injection well and the 30 m well. Only a small number of obligate aerobes were found in samples from a well 61 m away. These results suggest that nutrients in the recharge water formed an organically enriched zone to at least a distance of 6.1 m from the point of injection but not as far as 61 m. Extensive pumping at the end of the injection program apparently removed exogeneous nutrients near the injection well.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Reconnaissance for microbial activity in the Magothy aquifer, Bay Park, New York, four years after artificial recharge
Series title Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey
Volume 6
Issue 6
Year Published 1978
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Description 8 p.
First page 829
Last page 836
Country United States
State New York
County Nassau County
Other Geospatial Bay Park, Long Island
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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