My research focuses on water quality parameters and indicator organisms for
early detection of biofouling in groundwater production wells. Biofouling is
defined as the undesirable accumulation of organic matter and microorganisms
on submerged surfaces. Groundwater wells affected by biofouling experience a
decline in yield and deterioration of water quality, which may be difficult and
costly to remediate. Unfortunately, well rehabilitation and maintenance
generally are considered only after biofouling has caused severe breakdown of
well materials. Well water may be undrinkable at this advanced stage of
biofouling, and the well materials may be beyond repair.
I will be studying groundwater wells that produce water from the Queen City
Aquifer, south Texas. Livestock water supply wells in the study area exhibit
various degrees of biofouling with low dissolved oxygen, oxidation-reduction
potential, and pH; high total dissolved solids, and counts of colony forming
microbial organisms; and severe corrosion of well materials. In this study,
microorganisms are cultured using R2A. The counts of organisms are correlated
to the degree of water quality deterioration observed in the groundwater.
DNA is extracted from the R2A colonies, amplified using polymerase chain
reaction (PCR), separated with denaturing gel electrophoresis (DGGE), then
identified by a sequencing database. By identifying dominant organisms present
in both the biofilm and water samples, it is anticipated that a microorganism
will be found as an indicator of biofouling. The results of this study
will be useful for assessing severity of biofouling, well maintenance
scheduling, and for groundwater resource planning and management.
