Studies of Microbiological Contaminants in surface and ground water in Pennsylvania

• Samples were collected from 60 noncommunity supply wells in Pennsylvania.
  
• Culturable viruses were detected in 5 of the 60 samples.
  
• Samples were also collected for indicator organisms such as coliform, E. Coli, enterococcus, clostridium perfringens, and coliphage.

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Two of the samples with culturable virus detections had no total coliform or E. Coli detected.
Sampling for multiple indicator organisms provided the best chance of predicting presence of virus.

Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium which causes gastric ulcers and other intestinal problems, was detected in 4 of the 60 wells.

One of the samples with H. Pylori had no other indicators present.

The Final Report Online WRIR 01-4268:
Microbiological Quality of Water From Noncommunity Supply Wells in Carbonate and Crystalline Aquifers of Pennsylvania (PDF File)

• Lower Susquehanna River Basin (NAWQA) (Bruce Lindsey blindsey@usgs.gov)
• Viruses in water from wells used for noncommunity supply (Bruce Lindsey blindsey@usgs.gov)
• Relation between Well-Construction Practices and Occurrence of Bacteria in Private Household-Supply Wells in Southeastern Pennsylvania (Tammy Zimmerman tmzimmer@usgs.gov)
• Blue Marsh Lake (Michele Zimmerman mlzimmer@usgs.gov)
• Helicobacter pylori (Michele Zimmerman mlzimmer@usgs.gov)

• Lower Susquehanna River Basin (NAWQA)
  
• Viruses in water from wells used for noncommunity supply
  
• Relation between Well-Construction Practices and Occurrence of Bacteria in Private Household-Supply Wells in Southeastern Pennsylvania
  
• Blue Marsh Lake bacteria source identification pilot project (ongoing project)
  
• Helicobacter pylori
• Bacteria in the Brandywine Creek Watershed