Use of colloid filtration theory in modeling movement of bacteria through a contaminated sandy aquifer

Advantages and limitations of using filtration theory in mathematical modelling of the transport of bacteria through sandy aquifer sediments were assessed. Resulting estimates of the collision efficiency factor were also compared with other published values. Results from a natural gradient tracer test and observations of bacterial movement in a plume of organically-contaminated groundwater were studied in relation to a modified version of a filtration model used to describe removal of colloids during packed-bed filtration water treatment. The model accounted for observations with reasonable accuracy. Adsorption of bacteria was identified as a major control on bacterial movement down-gradient. Estimates of the collision efficiency factor varied considerably. There are 31 references.