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Dynamics and interaction of organic carbon, turbidity and bacteria in a karst aquifer system

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Abstract

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.

Résumé

La dynamique du carbone organique, de la turbidité, des bactéries indicatrices de contamination fécale et d’autres paramètres physico-chimiques a été étudiée dans un système karstique proche de la ville d’Yverdon-les-Bains, Suisse. Des mesures en continu ainsi que des échantillonnages ont été effectués à une perte drainant une zone agricole (input), et à deux groupes sourciers (output) qui montrent fréquemment une contamination bactérienne. En période d’étiage, un essai de traçage à l’uranine a été réalisé depuis la perte. Le traceur est apparu aux sources 10–12 jours après l’injection; la masse de restitution totale a été de 29%. Des essais précédents, réalisés en hautes eaux, ont montré des temps de transit plus court. Suite à un événement pluvieux important, un pic de turbidité primaire, synchrone avec l’augmentation du débit, est observé aux sources, indiquant une re-mobilisation des sédiments autochtones de l’aquifère. Un pic de turbidité secondaire apparaît quelques jours plus tard aux sources, suggérant l’arrivée de matériel allochtone de la perte. Cette dernière est accompagnée de pics plus larges de carbone organique et des bactéries indicatrices de contamination fécale. La microbiologie moléculaire (PCR-DGGE) a permis la caractérisation des communautés bactériennes de la perte et des sources. Ces résultats démontrent l’importante influence de la perte sur la qualité de l’eau souterraine, alors que sa contribution au débit du système est négligeable. Le carbone organique semble être un meilleur indicateur de la présence de contamination bactérienne que la turbidité.

Resumen

Se ha estudiado la dinámica del carbono orgánico, turbiedad, una bacteria indicadora de fecales, y parámetros fisicoquímicos en un sistema kárstico cerca de Yverdon, Suiza. Se realizaron mediciones en línea y muestreo en un sumidero que drena una superficie agrícola (la entrada), y dos grupos de manantiales (las salidas) que frecuentemente muestran contaminación bacterial. Un trazador fluorescente que se inyectó en el sumidero durante condiciones de flujo bajo arribó en los manantiales por vez primera 10–12 días después de que fue inyectado; el ritmo total de recuperación fue de 29%. Las pruebas de trazadores realizadas con anterioridad bajo condiciones de flujo alto aportaron tiempos de viaje más cortos. Después de una tormenta fuerte se observó un pico de turbiedad primario en los manantiales. El pico coincide con el limbo ascendente del hidrograma indicando remobilización de partículas alóctonas provenientes del acuífero. Un pico de turbiedad secundario ocurre varios días más tarde sugiriendo el arribo de partículas alóctonas provenientes del sumidero. Se observaron simultáneamente picos más amplios de carbono orgánico y bacteria. La aplicación de métodos de microbiología 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 contaminación de aguas subterráneas mientras que su contribución a la recarga del acuífero es insignificante. El carbono orgánico parece ser un mejor indicador de contaminación bacterial que la turbiedad.

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Acknowledgements

The Energy Service of Yverdon (SEY) funded this study. We are grateful to Claude-Olivier Pelet, Olivier Flückiger and Pierre Siegrist (SEY) for the good cooperation. We thank Dr. Pierre-André Schnegg for his outstanding field fluorometers, Mari-Eve Farine, Vanessa Di Marzo and Ana Slijepceviv for laboratory work, François Bourret for technical support, and our trainee Xavier Drogue for testing the measuring devices. We thank Pierre Gutzwiler (SIGRIST Photometer AG) for the good cooperation, and MeteoSwiss for the precipitation data. We thank the reviewers for their valuable comments, and Dr. David Drew for language corrections. This study was carried out in order to prepare the BEKARST project, subproject KARSTDYN (dynamics of microbial communities, organic carbon and particles in karst groundwater), which is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation since October 2004 (Project No. 200020-105427)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Hydrogeology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2007, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

    Michiel Pronk & Nico Goldscheider

  2. Laboratory of Microbiology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 9, 2007, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

    Jakob Zopfi

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  1. Michiel Pronk
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  2. Nico Goldscheider
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  3. Jakob Zopfi
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Correspondence to Nico Goldscheider.

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Pronk, M., Goldscheider, N. & Zopfi, J. Dynamics and interaction of organic carbon, turbidity and bacteria in a karst aquifer system. Hydrogeol J 14, 473–484 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-005-0454-5

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