Survey of human virus occurrence in wastewater-recharged groundwater on Long Island

Abstract
Treated wastewater effluents and groundwater observation wells from 3 sewage recharge installations located on Long Island [New York, USA] were assayed on a monthly basis for indigenous human enteroviruses and coliform bacteria for a period of 1 yr. Viruses were detected in ground water at sites where recharge basins were located less than 35 ft (about 10.6 m) above the aquifer. Results from 1 of the sites indicated the horizontal transfer of viable viruses through the groundwater aquifer.