A study was undertaken on the movement of viruses through a sandy soil sampled in a cypress dome, north of Gainesville, Florida. It was found that the adsorption of bacterial phage T2 and poliovirus type 1 onto soil columns treated with a secondary effluent was substantially lower than in columns treated with tap water. The secondary effluent had also the ability to desorb viruses from soil particles. The interference of organic materials present in waste water effluents with the interaction between viruses and soil particles was suggested. The movement of the viruses through the cypress dome is discussed.