ABSTRACT
Wastewater and sludge treatment and disposal policies as practiced may result in the discharge of any of more than 120 human enteric virus pathogens into aquatic or terrestrial domains. Suspended solids-associated virus in raw sewage is partially transferred into sludge during sewage treatment. Virus contamination of groundwater is influenced by the rate of application of wastewater and by soil composition and structure. Movement of viruses in soils has been studied at a wastewater reclamation project near St. Petersburg, Fla. Chlorinated secondary effluent was applied by a sprinkler irrigation system to a sandy soil containing little or no silt or clay. Low pH favors adsorption, while high pH results in elution. High concentrations of soluble organic matter in wastewater compete with viruses for adsorption sites on soil particles, resulting in decreased virus adsorption or even the liberation of previously adsorbed viruses.
