Microbial growth and clogging in sand column experiments simulating artificial recharge of groundwater

Clogging in sand columns infiltrated with untreated lake water was studied in laboratory experiments. During the clogging a substantial oxygen consumption in the sand, and reduction of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and assimilable organic carbon (AOC) over the column was observed. The co-occurence of bacteria with the organic particles demonstrated a high bacterial activity in the clogging layer.