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Pronk, Michiel
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Pronk, Michiel
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- PublicationMétadonnées seulementPercolation and Particle Transport in the Unsaturated Zone of a Karst Aquifer(2009)
; ;Goldscheider, Nico; Recharge and contamination of karst aquifers often occur via the unsaturated zone, but the functioning of this zone has not yet been fully understood. Therefore, irrigation and tracer experiments, along with monitoring of rainfall events, were used to examine water percolation and the transport of solutes, particles, and fecal bacteria between the land surface and a water outlet into a shallow cave. Monitored parameters included discharge, electrical conductivity, temperature, organic carbon, turbidity, particle-size distribution (PSD), fecal indicator bacteria, chloride, bromide, and uranine. Percolation following rainfall or irrigation can be subdivided into a lag phase (no response at the outlet), a piston-flow phase (release of epikarst storage water by pressure transfer), and a mixed-flow phase (increasing contribution of freshly infiltrated water), starting between 20 min and a few hours after the start of recharge event. Concerning particle and bacteria transport, results demonstrate that (1) a first turbidity signal occurs during increasing discharge due to remobilization of particles from fractures (pulse-through turbidity); (2) a second turbidity signal is caused by direct particle transfer from the soil (flow-through turbidity), often accompanied by high levels of fecal indicator bacteria, up to 17,000 Escherichia coli/100 mL; and (3) PSD allows differentiation between the two types of turbidity. A relative increase of fine particles (0.9 to 1.5 mu m) coincides with microbial contamination. These findings help quantify water storage and percolation in the epikarst and better understand contaminant transport and attenuation. The use of PSD as "early-warning parameter" for microbial contamination in karst water is confirmed. - PublicationAccès libreMicrobial communities in karst groundwater and their potential use for biomonitoring(2009)
; ;Goldscheider, NicolaThe structure, diversity and dynamics of microbial communities from a swallow hole draining agricultural land and two connected karst springs (Switzerland) were studied using molecular microbiological methods and related to hydrological and physicochemical parameters. Storm responses and an annual hydrological cycle were monitored to determine the short- and long-term variability, respectively, of bacterial communities. Statistical analysis of bacterial genetic fingerprints (16S rDNA PCR-DGGE) of spring water samples revealed several clusters that corresponded well with different levels of the allochthonous swallow hole contribution. Microbial communities in spring water samples highly affected by the swallow hole showed low similarities among them, reflecting the high temporal variability of the bacterial communities infiltrating at the swallow hole. Conversely, high similarities among samples with low allochthonous contribution provided evidence for a stable autochthonous endokarst microbial community. Three spring samples, representative for low, medium and high swallow hole contribution, were analysed by cloning/sequencing in order to identify the major bacterial groups in the communities. The autochthonous endokarst microbial community was mainly characterized of δ-Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Nitrospira species. A high percentage of unknown sequences suggested further that many karst aquifer bacteria are still undiscovered. Finally, the potential use of groundwater biomonitoring using microbial communities is discussed. - PublicationAccès librePercolation and Particle Transport in the Unsaturated Zone of a Karst Aquifer(2008)
; ;Goldscheider, Nicola; Recharge and contamination of karst aquifers often occur via the unsaturated zone, but the functioning of this zone has not yet been fully understood. Therefore, irrigation and tracer experiments, along with monitoring of rainfall events, were used to examine water percolation and the transport of solutes, particles, and fecal bacteria between the land surface and a water outlet into a shallow cave. Monitored parameters included discharge, electrical conductivity, temperature, organic carbon, turbidity, particle-size distribution (PSD), fecal indicator bacteria, chloride, bromide, and uranine. Percolation following rainfall or irrigation can be subdivided into a lag phase (no response at the outlet), a piston-flow phase (release of epikarst storage water by pressure transfer), and a mixed-flow phase (increasing contribution of freshly infiltrated water), starting between 20 min and a few hours after the start of recharge event. Concerning particle and bacteria transport, results demonstrate that (1) a first turbidity signal occurs during increasing discharge due to remobilization of particles from fractures (pulse-through turbidity); (2) a second turbidity signal is caused by direct particle transfer from the soil (flow-through turbidity), often accompanied by high levels of fecal indicator bacteria, up to 17,000 Escherichia coli/100 mL; and (3) PSD allows differentiation between the two types of turbidity. A relative increase of fine particles (0.9 to 1.5 μm) coincides with microbial contamination. These findings help quantify water storage and percolation in the epikarst and better understand contaminant transport and attenuation. The use of PSD as "early-warning parameter" for microbial contamination in karst water is confirmed. - PublicationAccès libreParticle-Size Distribution As Indicator for Fecal Bacteria Contamination of Drinking Water from Karst Springs(2007)
; ;Goldscheider, NicoContinuous monitoring of particle-size distribution (PSD), total organic carbon (TOC), turbidity, discharge and physicochemical parameters, together with analyses of fecal indicator bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli, made it possible to better understand the processes governing pathogen transport in karst groundwater and to establish PSD as indicator for possible microbial contamination of drinking water from karst springs. In the study area near Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, tracer tests proved connection between a sinking stream draining agricultural land and several springs, 4.8–6.3 km away. Tracing and monitoring results demonstrate that (i) suspended particles (turbidity) in the spring water either originate from remobilization of sediments inside the aquifer (autochthonous) or from the sinking stream and land surface (allochthonous); (ii) allochthonous turbidity coincides with increased E. coli and TOC levels; (iii) PSD makes it possible to distinguish the two types of turbidity; (iv) a relative increase of finer particles (0.9–10 µm) indicates allochthonous turbidity and thus possible fecal contamination. The method permits to optimize water treatment and identify periods when the spring water must be rejected. Findings from other test sites confirm the feasibility of this approach. - PublicationAccès libreDynamics and interaction of organic carbon, turbidity and bacteria in a karst aquifer system(2006)
; ;Goldscheider, NicolaLa dynamique du carbone organique, de la turbiditĂ©, des bactĂ©ries indicatrices de contamination fĂ©cale et d’autres paramètres physico-chimiques a Ă©tĂ© Ă©tudiĂ©e dans un système karstique proche de la ville d’Yverdon-les-Bains, Suisse. Des mesures en continu ainsi que des Ă©chantillonnages ont Ă©tĂ© effectuĂ©s Ă une perte drainant une zone agricole (input), et Ă deux groupes sourciers (output) qui montrent frĂ©quemment une contamination bactĂ©rienne. En pĂ©riode d’étiage, un essai de traçage Ă l’uranine a Ă©tĂ© rĂ©alisĂ© depuis la perte. Le traceur est apparu aux sources 10–12 jours après l’injection; la masse de restitution totale a Ă©tĂ© de 29%. Des essais prĂ©cĂ©dents, rĂ©alisĂ©s en hautes eaux, ont montrĂ© des temps de transit plus court. Suite Ă un Ă©vĂ©nement pluvieux important, un pic de turbiditĂ© primaire, synchrone avec l’augmentation du dĂ©bit, est observĂ© aux sources, indiquant une re-mobilisation des sĂ©diments autochtones de l’aquifère. Un pic de turbiditĂ© secondaire apparaĂ®t quelques jours plus tard aux sources, suggĂ©rant l’arrivĂ©e de matĂ©riel allochtone de la perte. Cette dernière est accompagnĂ©e de pics plus larges de carbone organique et des bactĂ©ries indicatrices de contamination fĂ©cale. La microbiologie molĂ©culaire (PCR-DGGE) a permis la caractĂ©risation des communautĂ©s bactĂ©riennes de la perte et des sources. Ces rĂ©sultats dĂ©montrent l’importante influence de la perte sur la qualitĂ© de l’eau souterraine, alors que sa contribution au dĂ©bit du système est nĂ©gligeable. Le carbone organique semble ĂŞtre un meilleur indicateur de la prĂ©sence de contamination bactĂ©rienne que la turbiditĂ©., The dynamics of organic carbon (OC), turbidity, faecal indicator bacteria and physicochemical parameters was studied in a karst system near Yverdon, Switzerland. Online measurements and sampling were done at a swallow hole draining an agricultural surface (the input), and two groups of springs (the outputs) that often show bacterial contamination. A fluorescent tracer that was injected into the swallow hole during low-flow conditions first arrived at the springs 10–12 days after injection; the total recovery rate was 29%. Previous tracer tests during high-flow conditions gave shorter travel times. After a major rainfall event, a primary turbidity peak was observed at the springs. It coincides with the rising limb of the hydrograph, indicating remobilisation of autochthonous particles from the aquifer. A secondary turbidity peak occurs several days later, suggesting the arrival of allochthonous particles from the swallow hole. Wider peaks of OC and bacteria were observed simultaneously. Applying methods from molecular microbiology (PCR-DGGE) allowed characterisation of the bacterial communities at the swallow hole and the springs. The results demonstrate that the swallow hole is an important source of groundwater contamination, while its contribution to aquifer recharge is insignificant. OC appears to be a better indicator for bacterial contamination than turbidity., Se ha estudiado la dinámica del carbono orgánico, turbiedad, una bacteria indicadora de fecales, y parámetros fisicoquĂmicos en un sistema kárstico cerca de Yverdon, Suiza. Se realizaron mediciones en lĂnea y muestreo en un sumidero que drena una superficie agrĂcola (la entrada), y dos grupos de manantiales (las salidas) que frecuentemente muestran contaminaciĂłn bacterial. Un trazador fluorescente que se inyectĂł en el sumidero durante condiciones de flujo bajo arribĂł en los manantiales por vez primera 10–12 dĂas despuĂ©s de que fue inyectado; el ritmo total de recuperaciĂłn fue de 29%. Las pruebas de trazadores realizadas con anterioridad bajo condiciones de flujo alto aportaron tiempos de viaje más cortos. DespuĂ©s de una tormenta fuerte se observĂł un pico de turbiedad primario en los manantiales. El pico coincide con el limbo ascendente del hidrograma indicando remobilizaciĂłn de partĂculas alĂłctonas provenientes del acuĂfero. Un pico de turbiedad secundario ocurre varios dĂas más tarde sugiriendo el arribo de partĂculas alĂłctonas provenientes del sumidero. Se observaron simultáneamente picos más amplios de carbono orgánico y bacteria. La aplicaciĂłn de mĂ©todos de microbiologĂa molecular (PCR-DGGE) permitieron caracterizar las comunidades de bacteria en el sumidero y los manantiales. Los resultados demuestran que el sumidero es una fuente importante de contaminaciĂłn de aguas subterráneas mientras que su contribuciĂłn a la recarga del acuĂfero es insignificante. El carbono orgánico parece ser un mejor indicador de contaminaciĂłn bacterial que la turbiedad.