Skip to main content
Log in

Hydrogeological aspects of bacterial contamination of some western Ireland karstic limestone aquifers

  • Published:
Environmental Geology and Water Sciences

Abstract

The paper describes the results of a study of the relationship between the hydrogeology of some karstic aquifers and bacterial contamination. The study showed that even where the contaminant load is low the nature of the aquifers ensured that contamination was endemic. Although a close correlation between antecedent precipitation and contamination was demonstrated, it was a complex relationship and further investigation, particularly of flood pulses, would be necessary to elucidate the relationship.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References Cited

  • Aldwell, C. R., and D. J. Burdon, 1986, Aspects of groundwater and land use in rural Ireland. Proceedings of 19th IAH congress on integrated land use planning and groundwater management in rural areas; Karlovy Vary, Czechoslovakia, Part 1, p. 67–75.

  • Aldwell, C. R., R. H. Thorn, and D. Daly, 1988, Point source pollution in karst areas;in Karst hydrogeology and karst environment protection. Proceedings of IAH 21st congress: Guilin, China. Part 2, p. 1046–1051.

  • APHA, 1985, Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 16th ed: Washington, American Public Health Association. 1268 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bitton, G., and C. P. Gerba, eds., 1983, Groundwater pollution microbiology: New York, John Wiley & Sons, 377 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clinton, F., 1990, Wells and springs in Sligo, late Summer 1990: The GSI Groundwater Newsletter no. 17, p. 2, 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coxon, C., and R. H. Thorn, 1989, Temporal variability of water quality and the implications for monitoring programmes in Irish limestone aquifers. Proceedings of IAHS symposium on groundwater management: Quality and quantity: Benidorm, Spain, p. 111–120.

  • Daly, D., 1988, Groundwater quality in Ireland: A review. Proceedings of 11th environmental health conference, p. 36–46.

  • Drew, D., 1987, Groundwater pollution—summer 1987: The GSI Groundwater Newsletter no. 6, p. 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, H., 1990, An evaluation of septic tank effluent movement in soil and groundwater systems: PhD thesis, National Council for Educational Awards, Dublin, Ireland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, H., E. Brady, and R. H. Thorn, 1987, The migration of enteric coliform bacteria from a septic tank: The GSI Groundwater Newsletter no. 4, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavanchy, Y., I. Muller, and F. Zwahlen, 1988, Several principal mechanisms of karstic springs in Switzerland related to physical and geological characteristics of their catchment. Proceedings of 21st IAH congress on karst hydrogeology and karst environment protection: Guilin, China. Part 1, p. 386–393.

  • Patterson, J. W., R. A. Minear, and T. K. Neoved, 1972, Septic tanks and the environment: Illinois Institute for Environmental Quality, Chicago, Illinois. 98 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorn, R. H., D. Drew, and C. Coxon, 1990, The hydrology and caves of the Geevagh and Bricklieve karsts, County Sligo. Irish Geogr. v. 23, no. 2, p. 120–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yates, M. V., 1990, Wellhead protection: Assessing the potential for microbial contamination of drinking water;in E. S. Simpson, and J. M. Sharp, Jr., eds., Selected papers on hydrogeology from the 28th international geological congress, V. 1, Washington D.C., July 9–19, July 1989, International Association of Hydrogeologists/Heise, p. 405–416.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thorn, R.H., Coxon, C.E. Hydrogeological aspects of bacterial contamination of some western Ireland karstic limestone aquifers. Environ. Geol. Water Sci 20, 65–72 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01736111

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01736111

Keywords

Navigation