Journal Article

Microbial Contamination of Groundwater at Small Community Water Supplies in Finland

Kuronen, Henry, Vepsäläinen, Asko, Heikkilä, Annika, Aula, Vesa, Pitkänen, Tarja, Maunula, Reetta, Lettojärvi, Heidi, Nousiainen, Liina-Lotta, Karinen, Päivi, Miettinen, Ilkka T., Pelkonen, Sinikka, Heinonen-Tanski, Helvi

2011

Overview

The raw water quality and associations between the factors considered as threats to water safety were studied in 20 groundwater supplies in central Finland in 2002–2004. Faecal contaminations indicated by the appearance of Escherichia coli or intestinal enterococci were present in five small community water supplies, all these managed by local water cooperatives. Elevated concentrations of nutrients in raw water were linked with the presence of faecal bacteria. The presence of on-site technical hazards to water safety, such as inadequate well construction and maintenance enabling surface water to enter into the well and the insufficient depth of protective soil layers above the groundwater table, showed the vulnerability of the quality of groundwater used for drinking purposes. To minimize the risk of waterborne illnesses, the vulnerable water supplies need to be identified and appropriate prevention measures such as disinfection should be applied.

• Publisher: Springer,Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences,Springer Netherlands,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Aquifers / Atmospheric Sciences / Autumn / Bacteria / Coliform bacteria / Communities / Community / Contamination / Cooperatives / Disinfection / Drinking water / Drinking water safety / E coli / Earth and Environmental Science / Ecology / Enterococcus - isolation & purification / Environment / Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology / Environmental Management / Environmental Monitoring - statistics & numerical data / Escherichia coli / Escherichia coli - isolation & purification / Faecal contamination / Finland / Forest management / Forest reserves / Freshwater / Groundwater / Laboratories / Microbial contamination / Microorganisms / Nutrients / Onsite / Physical Geography / Potable water / Prevention programs / Public health / Raw / Raw water / Risk reduction / Safety / Small community water supply / Statistics, Nonparametric / Suppliers / Surface water / Vulnerability / Water depth / Water Microbiology / Water pollution / Water Purification / Water quality / Water resources management / Water samples / Water supplies / Water supply / Water Supply - statistics & numerical data / Water table / Waterborne diseases