PREFERENTIAL FLOW AND MANURE, PATHOGEN, NUTRIENTS

Phosphorus and pathogens have been shown to bypass the soil matrix to contaminate the tile discharge, particularly following the application of liquid manures. This phenomena has been shown to be widespread and is of great concern to both water quality regulators and the affected landowners. The tile drains have merely served to more rapidly visualize the problem, indicated that significant fecal coliform infiltration into well structured soil may contaminate groundwater even during modest rainfall. Surveys of groundwater supply wells typically reveal a significant percentage to be contaminated with coliforms and nitrate but the direct cause-and-effect is usually difficult to determine.

Published papers