Survival of Selected Enteric Organisms in Various Types of Soil

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Abstract
A bacteriological examination of sewage was made to determine the presence of enterics and organisms that might be used as indicators of sewage pollution. Out of 672 cultures isolated from sewage 274 were Pseudomonas, 34 were Proteus, 11 were paracolons, 17 were Alkaligenes and 1 was Salmonella typhi. Various soils were treated with raw sewage and quantitative examinations made for coliforms and enterococci. A reduction of coliform occurred although the reduction trend was neither rapid nor constant. The enterococci died out more rapidly than did the coliform. The longevity of the enterococci was longer in soil of high organic contents. When S. typhi was added to sewage treated soils, the enterococci persisted longer than the S. typhi. The enterococci appear to be good indicators of public health hazard in sewage-treated soils.