ABSTRACT
Field studies have clearly documented that viruses can be transported significant distances in the subsurface. The prime concern of the presence of viruses in soils is their contamination of edible crops, landscaped areas used for recreation, and groundwater. The greatest amount of research effort on field studies concerned with virus fate in soils has been with the land application of domestic sewage. There have been several investigations into the potential for viral contamination of groundwater resulting from sludge application to soil. Studies of enteric viruses in soils provide information on their persistence and penetration into the subsurface. Improvements in technology during the 1970s for virus detection in the environment provided the tools for their study in soil and groundwater. Extensive field studies on viruses in drinking water wells are clearly needed to assess the exposure to potential contamination of drinking water supplies and our valuable groundwater resources.
