Fate and Transport of Pathogens in the Subsurface

致病菌和病毒对加拿大（加拿大环境委员会，2010年）和世界各地（世卫组织，2006年）的供水构成重大健康威胁。病原体可以从化粪池系统、农业活动、污泥处理和污染径流的渗透进入地下。在大多数情况下，病原体通过近表面的不饱和区进入饱和区。随后运输到供水井可能对人类健康造成严重影响。细菌和病毒在地下的运输是一个复杂的过程，受细菌和病毒的物理化学性质以及地下环境的影响。尽管经过了几十年的研究，细菌和病毒在地下，特别是在非饱和带，以及在破裂的岩石和粘土中的运输还没有得到很好的了解。将进行实验室研究，以提高对地下细菌和病毒的命运和运输的了解，包括不饱和带，破裂的岩石和粘土。各种致病菌和病毒的替代物将用于研究。病原体特征、土壤性质、地球化学和生物膜的影响将通过孔隙尺度、原子力显微镜和石英晶体微平衡研究相结合的一维和二维实验尺度系统进行研究。将开发新的机制模型来预测细菌和病毒在多孔和裂缝介质中的命运和运输。这些模型将包括微尺度模型晶格玻尔兹曼流模型与生物膜生长和病原体运输。将开发结合实验研究结果和微尺度模型的现场尺度模型。这项研究的结果可用于加拿大监管机构和风险评估人员制定保护地下水资源免受病原体污染的综合政策。从而改善对加拿大公众健康的保护。该项目将为培养3名博士和3名硕士提供良好的机会。学生在一个跨学科的环境涉及水文地质学，微生物学，胶体化学和地球化学，在国家的最先进的实验室和计算设施。

Pathogenic bacteria and viruses represent significant health threats to water supplies in Canada (CCME, 2010) and around the world (WHO, 2006). Pathogens can enter the subsurface from septic systems, agricultural activities, sludge disposal, and infiltration of contaminated runoff. In most cases, pathogens travel through the near surface unsaturated zone, to the saturated zone. Subsequent transport to water supply wells can lead to serious impacts on human health. Transport of bacteria and viruses through the subsurface is a complex process, influenced by the physicochemical nature of the bacteria and viruses and of the subsurface environment. In spite of decades of study, transport of bacteria and viruses in the subsurface, particularly in the unsaturated zone, and in fractured rock and clay is not well understood. Laboratory studies will be conducted to improve the understanding of the fate and transport of bacteria and viruses in the subsurface, including the unsaturated zone, and fractured rock and clay. A variety of surrogates for pathogenic bacteria and viruses will be used in the studies. The effects of pathogen characteristics, soil properties, geochemistry, and biofilms will be examined using pore scale, and one and two dimensional bench scale systems in combination with atomic force microscopy and quartz crystal microbalance studies. New mechanistic models for predicting the fate and transport of bacteria and viruses in porous and fractured media will be developed. These models will include a microscale model Lattice Boltzmann flow model with biofilm growth and pathogen transport. Field scale models will be developed that incorporate the results of experimental studies and microscale modelling. The results of this research can be used by Canadian regulators and risk assessors in developing comprehensive policies for protection of subsurface water resources from contamination by pathogens. leading to improved protection of the health of the Canadian public.The project will provide excellent opportunities for training the 3 Ph.D. and 3 M.A.Sc. students in an interdisciplinary environment involving hydrogeology, microbiology, colloidal chemistry and geochemistry, in state of the art laboratory and computational facilities.