| Within the study of soil science, there is a keen interest in understanding the impact that microorganisms have on subsurface water flow. Efforts at both the field scale and the laboratory scale have yielded thoughtful experiments and valuable data. However, to move forward in this area, it is important to understand the design limitations of the experiments and to avoid potential experimental artifacts at all costs.;The goal of this study was to visualize these artifacts and errors of interpretation that can result in the development of biocurtains in the field. The assumption underlying biocurtain development is that it is possible to stimulate growth of microorganisms enough to create a semipermeable barrier to filter and purify aquifer flow. Due to heterogeneities in the subsurface, this technology is difficult to implement. In addition to demonstrating potential artifacts, this project visualized the development of preferential pathways and diversionary flow that can occur in the field during the installation of biocurtains.;Experimental results gave light on a number of artifacts and system design flaws including pressure drop measurements, uneven spread of microbes in the subsurface, and contamination of nutrient sources. Additionally, deviation of flow and preferential pathways were observed which could, if ignored at the field scale, have important ramifications. |
