Recent Research Indicates That Viruses From Sewer Pipes Can Quickly Reach Deep Aquifers
It was previously believed that pathogens could not get into water wells that were sunk into deep groundwater aquifers. Now this is no longer accepted as a forgone conclusion. Over the past decade many disease-causing viruses have been found in very deep locations in both the United States and Europe.
Recent research shows that the viruses are in fact seeping into deep water well from sewer pipes.
Most public water suppliers in the US do not test for the presence of viruses since the EPA does not require it. It was formerly believed, also, that it would take far too long for viruses to reach aquifers for them to survive. One writer explains, “Groundwater models predicted that surface contaminants would require tens to hundreds of years to reach wells in these aquifers, which typically sit more than 700 feet underground. Even if pathogens did find their way to the groundwater, they should be dead after that amount of time.” In spite of the “expert” predictions, viruses are being found in wells at very deep levels.
It was suspected that leaking sewer pipes are the source, and subsequent sampling seems to bear this out.
More than 147,000 public water systems in the US get their drinking water from underground aquifers, and most of these are not tested and many do not disinfect the water.
Reference: Chemical and Engineering News.
