Reactive-transport modelling of Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2 passage through water saturated sediment columns

The reuse of treated wastewater (e.g. for irrigation) is a common practice to combat water scarcity problems world-wide. However, the potential spread opportunistic pathogens and fecal contaminants like Enterococci within subsoil could pose serious health hazards. Additional sources (e.g., leaky sewer systems, livestock farming) aggravate this situation. This study contributes an understanding pathogen in environment, using combined modelling experimental approach. impact quartz sediment certain characteristics on dissemination Enterococcus faecalis JH2–2 investigated. transport processes advection-dispersion straining were studied by injecting conservative saline tracer fluorescent microspheres through packed columns, evaluating resulting breakthrough curves models. Similarly, simultaneously occurring reactive microbial attachment, decay, respiration growth suspended with or without dissolved oxygen (DO) nutrients sediment, inlet outlet concentration curves. straining, decay growth, important when DO was absent. Irreversible attachment present. Sensitivity analysis each parameter conducted, field scale behavior predicted, facilitate future work.