Environmental movement of indicator bacteria from soil amended with undigested sewage sludge

Abstract

The relationship between the quantity of undigested sewage sludge applied to agricultural land and the number of coliform and faecal streptococcal organisms transported from the sludge into the subsoil, ground water or to various parts of selected crops was investigated. Bacterial numbers transported to 15 cm depth in the plot that received the highest amount of sludge showed some correlation with the amount of sludge applied.

Bacterial numbers in other plots, in the leachate and on the crops have also been discussed.