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Partitioning Of E. Coli And Enterococci Between Planktonic And Sorbed Phases In Runoff From Pasturelands, Michelle L. Soupir, H. E. Saied Mostaghimi, Elizabeth F. Alphin

Michelle L. Soupir

Pathogens are the leading cause of surface water impairments in Virginia. Currently, Nonpoint Source (NPS) pollution models are most frequently used to determine the maximum allowable loading rates of bacteria from identified sources and they typically simulate bacterial transport to surface waters as a planktonic or free pollutant. Very few models attempt to partition between the planktonic and attached phases primarily because data on bacteria partitioning during overland flow events are currently not available. A field study was conducted to evaluate the partitioning of E. coli and enterococci between the planktonic and attached phases in runoff from pasturelands and to …