U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Relation of Bacteria in Limestone Aquifers to 

Septic Systems in Berkeley County, West

Virginia

By Melvin V. Mathes

Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4229

In cooperation with the

Eastern Panhandle Soil Conservation District 

Charleston, West Virginia

2000
U.S. Department of the Interior 

Bruce Babbitt, Secretary 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Charles G. Groat, Director 

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

For additional information write to:

District Chief

U.S. Geological Survey

11 Dunbar Street

Charleston, WV 25301 

Copies of this report can be purchased from:

U.S. Geological Survey

Branch of Information Services

Box 25286

Denver, CO 80225-0286
Contents III

CONTENTS

Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................................ 1

Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1

Background ................................................................................................................................................................. 2

Previous Hydrogeologic Investigations ....................................................................................................................... 2

Topography, Ground-Water Flow, and Land Use in Berkeley County ....................................................................... 2

Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................................................ 2

Study Methods ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Selection of Sampling Sites ........................................................................................................................................ 4

Collection and Analysis of Samples ............................................................................................................................ 4

Relation of Bacteria in Wells to Septic Systems ................................................................................................................... 7

Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................... 11

References Cited ................................................................................................................................................................... 11

FIGURES 

1. Map showing location of study area, geology, and sample locations in

 Berkeley County, West Virginia .............................................................................................................................. 3

2-7. Graphs showing: 

2. Escherichia coli bacteria concentration and septic-system density 

of wells sampled June 2000 in Berkeley County................................................................................................ 8

3. Fecal coliform bacteria concentration and septic-system density

of wells sampled June 2000 in Berkeley County................................................................................................ 9

4. Total coliform bacteria concentration and septic-system density

of wells sampled June 2000 in Berkeley County................................................................................................ 9

5. Depth of wells sampled and Escherichia coli bacteria concentrations 

detected June 2000 in Berkeley County ............................................................................................................. 10

6. Depth of wells sampled and fecal coliform bacteria concentrations

detected June 2000 in Berkeley County ............................................................................................................. 10

7. Depth of wells sampled and total coliform bacteria concentrations

detected June 2000 in Berkeley County ............................................................................................................. 11

TABLES

1. Site information and detections of bacteria for wells sampled in 

June 2000 in Berkeley County, West Virginia .................................................................................................... 5

2. Number and percentage of wells containing bacteria for each septic

density sampled June 2000 in Berkeley County................................................................................................. 7
IV Contents

CONVERSION FACTORS AND VERTICAL DATUM

 Temperature given in degrees Celsius (oC) can be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (oF) by using the following equation:

οF = 1.8 (οC) + 32

 Sea level: In this report, “sea level” refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of 1929)—a geodetic datum

 derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of both the United States and Canada, formerly called Sea Level

 Datum of 1929.

 

Multiply By To obtain

Length

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter 

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter

milliliter 0.0610 cubic inch
Abstract 1

Relation of Bacteria in Limestone Aquifers to Septic 

Systems in Berkeley County, West Virginia

by Melvin V. Mathes

Abstract

Water samples collected from 50 wells in Berkeley County, West Virginia, during June 2000 were 

analyzed for indicator bacteria. Of the 50 wells 

sampled, 62 percent (31 wells) contained total 

coliform bacteria, 32 percent (16 wells) contained 

Escherichia coli, and 30 percent (15 wells) contained fecal coliform bacteria. Although bacteria 

were present in many wells regardless of the number of septic systems in a 5-acre circular area 

around each well, no apparent correlation was 

detected between septic-system density and concentrations of bacteria colonies. There was also 

little difference in the frequency of total coliform 

bacteria detection between shallow and deep 

wells; however, the highest concentrations of

E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria were found in 

the shallowest wells. At least one of the three bacteria types was found in samples of untreated 

water in 32 of the 50 wells. At 21 of the 32 wells 

with bacteria present, there was no treatment of 

the ground water to remove bacteria.

Introduction

In many residential subdivisions in the limestone terrain of Berkeley County, West Virginia, individual 

wells are used for domestic water supply, and septic 

systems with leach fields are used for waste treatment. 

The rapid movement of water through fractures in the 

underlying limestone bedrock and aquifers1 in the 

county poses a high risk of contamination of the wells 

by bacteria from septic systems. Such aquifers underlie more than one third of the county (Shultz and other, 

1995). In areas where overlying soils are thin, limestone aquifers with fractures or conduits allow rapid 

infiltration and lateral movement of ground water, 

which increases the risk of bacterial contamination of 

drinking-water supplies. There is a risk, therefore, that 

diseases may be transmitted by waste water from leach 

fields to nearby drinking-water wells. Newly-constructed homes with small lots could potentially have a 

large number of leach fields located within close proximity of drinking-water wells.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the (West Virginia) Eastern Panhandle Soil 

Conservation District, conducted a study of the relation between the presence of bacteria in water from 

wells completed in limestone aquifers in Berkeley 

County and the density of septic systems in the vicinity of the wells. This report presents the results of analyses of water samples from 50 residential drinkingwater wells in Berkeley County for fecal coliform, 

total coliform, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) indicator 

bacteria. It describes the relation of the density of septic systems to bacteria concentrations in water samples 

from drinking-water wells drilled in limestone aquifers in Berkeley County. Information in this report can 

be used to develop standards for residential septic systems in the county to reduce or eliminate the potential 

1 Includes limestone, dolomite, and calcareous shale, but will be 

referred to as limestone or limestone aquifers throughout this report.
2 Relation of Bacteria in Limestone Aquifers to Septic Systems in Berkeley County, West Virginia

for disease transmission through water in limestone 

aquifers.

Background

The purpose of a septic system and leach field is to 

provide sufficient time and space to digest and filter 

disease-causing organisms so that when water returns 

to the environment it will not transmit them. Current 

(2000) West Virginia regulations for septic leach fields 

require a minimum area, soil depth, and percolation 

rate in support of the general requirement that septic 

systems not create a public health hazard (64 CSR 9-

3.5.a). The regulations require at least three feet of soil 

between a leach-field trench and bedrock. The depth 

and percolation rate of soils overlying the fractured 

limestone bedrock in much of the study area are less 

than the minimum required for installation of septic 

leach fields. Many of these shallow soil zones in Berkeley County, however, are the sites of existing or proposed subdivisions that use or will use individual 

septic leach fields. Areas where bedrock outcrops are 

present may have an even greater potential for groundwater contamination of nearby wells by septic

effluent. 

Previous Hydrogeologic Investigations

The geology of Berkeley County was described and 

mapped by Grimsley (1916) and by Dean and others 

(1987). Lineaments that may indicate or coincide with 

the traces of joints or fractures in the bedrock in the 

county have been mapped by Hobba (1976), Taylor 

(1974), and Zewe (1991). Shultz and others (1995) 

described the geohydrology, ground-water availability, 

and ground-water quality of Berkeley County, with 

emphasis on limestone areas. They found fecal 

coliform bacteria present in 41 percent of wells sampled in limestone areas of Berkeley County, and that 

fecal contamination was more common in summer 

when high temperatures decreased the rate at which 

the bacteria died. 

Topography, Ground-Water Flow, and Land Use in 

Berkeley County

Berkeley County encompasses 325 square miles of the 

eastern panhandle of West Virginia and drains entirely 

into the Potomac River (fig. 1). The western half of the 

county is underlain predominantly by shale and sandstone and only minor limestone. The eastern half of 

the county is in the Shenandoah Valley, and is characterized by gently rolling topography with altitudes 

ranging from 310 to 800 feet above sea level (Shultz 

and others, 1995). It is underlain predominantly by 

limestone and other carbonate rocks such as dolomite 

and calcareous shale, but also includes significant outcrops of sandstone and shale. The study area in this 

report is located in the limestone areas of the eastern 

part of Berkeley County. 

Ground-water flow in the limestones of Berkeley County can be diffuse flow or conduit flow. Diffuse flow occurs where significant solution 

enlargement of fractures has not occurred, and the 

flow is slow and laminar. Conduit flow usually occurs 

in faults, beneath losing streams, in cavernous areas, 

and where fractures have been enlarged by dissolution 

of limestone. Conduits can range from less than one 

inch to tens of feet in width and height, and are generally the main flow paths for ground water wherever 

they are present. Ground water in conduits can move 

rapidly and is sometimes turbulent (Shultz and others, 

1995). In the 1995 study by Shultz and others, groundwater-flow velocities in limestone in Berkeley County 

ranged from 32 to 1,879 feet per day. These higher 

velocities may facilitate the transmission of bacteria 

and potential disease-causing organisms from waste 

systems to drinking-water wells.

The land use in Berkeley County is constantly 

changing as subdivisions become more numerous. The 

population of Berkeley County increased 26.7 percent 

from 1980 to 1990 (U.S. Department of Commerce, 

1991). Shultz and others (1995) report land-use statistics compiled in 1973 for Berkeley County as 46.5 percent forest, 31.4 percent pasture, 12.9 percent 

cropland, 4.7 percent urban or commercial, 3.6 percent 

orchard, 0.7 percent barren, and 0.2 percent water. 

More recent studies report 13.4 percent cropland in 

1989 (West Virginia Department of Agriculture, 

1990). Manure applied to cropland as fertilizer may 

contribute bacteria to the ground-water system. 

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Roger Boyer and Michael O’Donnell of the Potomac Headwaters Resource Conservation and Development Region, Inc. for overseeing and 

conducting a preliminary site analysis of 83 potential 

sampling sites, for obtaining permission to collect 

additional well-construction and site-analysis data at 

each of these sites, and for obtaining permission to 

sample 50 of the 83 selected sites for indicator
Introduction 3

{
4 Relation of Bacteria in Limestone Aquifers to Septic Systems in Berkeley County, West Virginia

bacteria. Virginia Tabb of the U.S. Natural Resources 

Conservation Service also helped to identify potential 

sampling sites. Appreciation is extended to the residents of Berkeley County who granted access to sample their wells and who provided well information. 

Study Methods

During the winter of 1999-2000, field personnel 

located and identified 83 candidate wells for potential 

bacteria sampling. In June 2000, water samples were 

collected from 50 of the 83 wells and analyzed for 

indicator bacteria (for site location, see fig. 1).

Selection of Sampling Sites

The criterion for selection as a candidate well was the 

location of the well in a residential community where 

sewage is treated in individual septic systems with 

leach fields that overlie limestone aquifers. Candidate 

wells were assigned to three categories of septic-system density -- high density indicates four or more septic systems per five acres, intermediate density 

indicates two or three septic systems within five acres, 

and low density indicates one or no septic systems in 

five acres. 

In April 2000, candidate wells were inspected. 

Site inspections included the collection of well-construction data, well-yield information, and geologic 

information. At that time, the number of septic systems within a five-acre circular area surrounding each 

candidate well was determined, and other possible 

sources of fecal bacteria, such as grazing animals, gardens, and feedlots, were identified. Other possible bacteria sources were noted for 13 of the 50 wells 

sampled. The 50 wells selected for sampling (fig. 1, 

table 1) were chosen mainly on the basis of owner 

cooperation and the ability to collect a representative, 

untreated sample from the well. Wells properly sealed 

and grouted and with no nearby possible bacteria 

sources other than septic systems were given priority; 

but out of necessity, the wells selected for sampling 

include those with other nearby possible sources of 

fecal bacteria and a variety of well-construction characteristics. The wells sampled are clustered in certain 

areas of the county based on the necessities of site 

selection, mainly owner availability and cooperation. 

Of the 50 sampled wells, 16 were classified as high 

septic density, 21 as intermediate septic density, and 

13 as low septic density. 

Collection and Analysis of Samples

All wells sampled were purged until recorded measurements (made in a flow-through chamber) of water 

temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved 

oxygen stabilized, indicating that fresh water was 

being withdrawn from the aquifer as opposed to stagnant water from the well casing and plumbing. When 

the purge log of recorded field measurements indicated stable conditions, two sterile bottles were filled 

with fresh ground water. Bacteria concentrations were 

determined by membrane filtration of this water and 

microscopic enumeration of colonies using methods 

described by Myers and Sylvester (1997). 

Sample volumes of 20, 50, and 100 milliliters 

were filtered for analysis of both total and fecal 

coliform. Sterile dilution water was also filtered 

through membrane filters before (equipment blank) 

and after (procedure blank) the sample volumes were 

filtered for quality assurance. No bacteria were found 

on any of the fecal coliform blanks. Five of the total 

coliform blanks had seven or fewer colonies, and one 

blank had colonies too numerous to count. Several of 

these colonies, however, were possibly types of bacteria other than total coliforms. 

All bacteria colonies were examined on each 

membrane filter, and all colonies of total coliform, 

fecal coliform, and E. coli were counted. Bacteria concentrations were determined from these counts by 

standard formulas according to procedures in Myers 

and Sylvester (1997). Each sample was tested for total 

coliform by filtering known volumes of water sample 

through membrane filters and placing these filters in 

petri dishes containing m-Endo culture media. These 

petri dishes were incubated at 35o C for 24 hours to 

allow optimal growth of total coliform bacteria colonies. All filters that grew total coliform colonies characterized by a gold or green metallic sheen were 

transferred to NA-MUG media for further incubation 

for four hours at 35o C. 

After four hours, these filters were then 

inspected for E. coli colonies by examination under an 

ultraviolet light. These colonies were characterized by 

a dark center surrounded by a fluorescent halo. E. coli

bacteria grow in human intestines and can be detected 

in water samples by simple tests. E. coli survive in the 

environment at a rate similar to pathogenic or diseasecausing organisms and are therefore widely recognized as indicators of hazardous sewage contamination. E. coli are part of the larger fecal coliform group 
Study Methods 5

Table 1. Site information and detections of bacteria for wells sampled in June 2000 in Berkeley County, 

West Virginia

[EC = Escherichia Coli; FC = Fecal Coliform; col/100 mL = colonies per 100 milliliters]

Within a 5-acre circle, Bacteria concentration, col/100 mL

Well 

number

Number 

of septic 

systems

Other 

possible 

sources 

of 

bacteria?

Were EC of 

FC detected? E. Coli Fecal 

Coliform

Total 

Coliform

Well 

Depth, 

Feet

Is the 

water 

treated 

before 

use?

Aquifer 

lithology

43 6 No Yes 9 12 85 240 No Limestone

48 6 No No <1 <1 3 215 No Limestone

65 6 No No <1 <1 <1 360 No Limestone

76 6 No No <1 <1 <1 150 No Shale

14 5 Yes Yes 39 37 370 93 Yes Dolomite

70 5 No Yes 75 59 >270 40 Yes Limestone

73 5 No No <1 <1 <1 250 No Limestone

74 5 No Yes 1 <1 120 60 Yes Dolomite

81 5 No No <1 <1 12 540 Yes Limestone

10 4 No Yes <1 1 <1 82 No Dolomite

15 4 No No <1 <1 2 95 No Dolomite

20 4 No No <1 <1 47 220 No Limestone

25 4 No No <1 <1 6 178 Yes Limestone

57 4 No No <1 <1 <1 320 Yes Limestone

64 4 No Yes 2 <1 140 425 No Limestone

83 4 No Yes <1 200 >270 90 Yes Limestone

26 3 No Yes 1 1 90 268 No Limestone

29 3 Yes Yes <1 1 17 194 Yes Dolomite

41 3 No No <1 <1 15 150 Yes Limestone

44 3 Yes Yes 5 2 68 325 No Limestone

45 3 No No <1 <1 <1 270 No Limestone

47 3 No Yes 14 <1 68 250 No Limestone

50 3 No No <1 <1 14 375 Yes Limestone

61 3 No No <1 <1 <1 300 No Dolomite

63 3 No No <1 <1 <1 160 No Limestone

67 3 No No <1 <1 <1 123 No Limestone

69 3 Yes Yes 14 11 >270 135 No Limestone
6 Relation of Bacteria in Limestone Aquifers to Septic Systems in Berkeley County, West Virginia

Within a 5-acre circle, Bacteria concentration, col/100 mL

Well 

number

Number 

of septic 

systems

Other 

possible 

sources 

of 

bacteria?

Were EC of 

FC detected? E. Coli Fecal 

Coliform

Total 

Coliform

Well 

Depth, 

Feet

Is the 

water 

treated 

before 

use?

Aquifer 

lithology

71 3 Yes Yes 4 5 6 350 Yes Dolomite

72 3 No No <1 <1 21 100 No Shale

75 3 No Yes 3 2 89 87 No Dolomite

4 2 Yes No <1 <1 17 80 No Dolomite

18 2 No No <1 <1 <1 186 No Limestone

23 2 No No <1 <1 <1 300 Yes Limestone

27 2 No No <1 <1 120 280 No Limestone

30 2 Yes No <1 <1 <1 125 No Limestone

58 2 No No <1 <1 710 450 Yes Limestone

66 2 Yes Yes 1 <1 250 375 No Limestone

7 1 Yes Yes 69 170 570 28 No Limestone

16 1 Yes No <1 <1 3 400 Unknown Limestone

19 1 No Yes <1 1 <1 125 Unknown Limestone

33 1 Yes No <1 <1 <1 82 Unknown Limestone

34 1 No No <1 <1 <1 315 No Limestone

35 1 No No <2 <1 9 168 Unknown Limestone

36 1 Yes No <1 <1 <1 330 Unknown Limestone

38 1 No No <1 <1 <1 400 No Limestone

46 1 No Yes 5 6 73 220 No Limestone

51 1 No No <1 <1 <1 352 No Dolomite

54 1 No Yes 30 97 72 146 No Limestone

5 0 No Yes 20 <1 26 336 Unknown Limestone

52 0 Yes No <1 <1 <1 Unknown No Limestone

Table 1. Site information and detections of bacteria for wells sampled in June 2000 in Berkeley County, 

West Virginia —Continued

[EC = Escherichia Coli; FC = Fecal Coliform; col/100 mL = colonies per 100 milliliters]

of bacteria that also have been used to indicate sewage 

contamination. Apparent inconsistencies between 

fecal coliform detections and E. coli detections result 

from the use of separate filters and separate subsamples of water. It is possible to detect only one of these 

bacteria types, even when both are present in the 

source water. 

Each sample was tested for fecal coliform bacteria by filtering known volumes of water sample 

through membrane filters and placing these filters into 

petri dishes containing m-FC culture media. These 

petri dishes were incubated at 44.5o C for 24 hours to 

allow optimal growth of fecal coliform colonies. Fecal 

coliform colonies are characterized by a deep blue 

color.
Relation of Bacteria in Wells to Septic Systems 7

Relation of Bacteria in Wells to Septic Systems

The presence of bacteria in water from a drinkingwater well is significant, because drinking water 

should be free from bacteria. The standard for public 

supplies is no detectable E. Coli or fecal coliform in 

any sample from the drinking water and no detectable 

total coliform in more than 95 percent of repeated 

samples (United States Environmental Protection 

Agency, 1986). 

Total coliform bacteria were detected in samples 

from 31 of 50 wells (62 percent), E. coli in 16 of 50 

wells (32 percent), and fecal coliform bacteria in 15 of 

50 wells (30 percent). Domestic wells that are constructed with a surface seal, concrete pad, and grouted 

casing will produce water less susceptible to surface 

contamination by fecal bacteria (fecal coliform and

E. coli) so long as the aquifer itself is not contaminated 

(Eychaner, 1998). The high frequency of fecal contamination of wells in Berkeley County, however, 

indicates that the limestone aquifers are contaminated 

in many areas. The presence or absence of fecal bacteria (fecal coliform bacteria and E. coli) is shown for 

each well sampled (fig. 1). Total coliform bacteria are 

ubiquitous in ground water, and their presence does 

not necessarily indicate the presence of fecal bacteria 

such as fecal coliform bacteria or E. coli in ground 

water. The data show, however, that where total 

coliform bacteria are not found in ground water, fecal 

bacteria such as E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria are 

also typically not found.

Neither the number (and percentage) of wells in 

which bacteria was detected nor the concentrations of 

bacteria in the samples could be correlated with the 

density of septic systems around the sampled wells 

(table 2). E. coli were present in 5 of 16 wells sampled 

(31 percent) from the high septic density class, 7 of 21 

wells sampled (33 percent) from the intermediate density, and 4 of 13 wells sampled (31 percent) from the 

low density class. Fecal coliform bacteria were present 

in five samples (31 percent) from wells in the high 

septic density class, six samples (29 percent) from the 

intermediate density class, and four samples (31 percent) from the low density class. Total coliform bacteria were present in 11 wells (69 percent) from the high 

septic density class, 14 wells (67 percent) from the 

intermediate septic density class, and 6 wells (46 percent) from the low density class. 

Scatterplots of bacteria concentration versus 

number of septic systems in 5-acre circular area

surrounding each well do not show any graphical 

 

Table 2. Number and percentage of wells containing bacteria for each septic density sampled 

June 2000 in Berkeley County

Septic Density

High Medium Low

Number of septic systems per five acres 4-6 2-3 0-1

Number of wells sampled 16 21 13

Number of samples with E. coli bacteria 

present

574

Percent of samples with E. coli bacteria 

present

31 33 31

Number of samples with fecal coliform 

bacteria present

564

Percent of samples with fecal coliform 

bacteria present

31 29 31

Number of samples with total coliform 

bacteria present

11 14 6

Percent of samples with total coliform 

bacteria present

69 67 46
8 Relation of Bacteria in Limestone Aquifers to Septic Systems in Berkeley County, West Virginia

correlation between bacteria concentration and septicsystem density (figs. 2-4). This lack of correlation may 

be a result of the inability to determine the source of 

water to a well. Ground-water flow velocity within 

limestone aquifers in the study area can range from 32 

feet per day in diffuse-flow portions of the aquifer to 

1,154 feet per day in conduit-flow dominated portions 

of the aquifer (Shultz and others, 1995). Thus, bacteria 

present in water samples collected from wells sampled 

in areas with ground-water velocities at the higher end 

of this range may have been transported from distant 

portions of the aquifer and not necessarily from the 5-

acre circular area surrounding a well. Further data are 

needed to understand bacteria transport processes 

within the limestone aquifers of Berkeley County. 

Scatterplots of well depth versus bacteria concentration (figs. 5-7) show little difference in the frequency of total coliform bacteria detection between 

shallow and deep wells. The greatest concentrations of 

E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria, however, were 

detected in the shallowest wells. 

Although the fifty wells selected for sampling 

were chosen to minimize the number of sources of 

bacteria other than household leach fields within the

5-acre circular area surrounding each well, field notes 

indicate that 13 of the wells have possible bacteria 

sources other than leach fields. These possible sources 

include grazing animals, gardens, and some small 

feedlots. Total coliform bacteria were detected for 9 of 

these 13 wells (69 percent) as opposed to 22 of 37 

wells (59 percent) with no other possible bacteria 

sources. E. coli bacteria were detected for 6 of these 

13 wells (46 percent) as opposed to 10 of 37 wells (27 

percent) with no other possible sources. Fecal coliform 

bacteria were detected for 6 of these 13 (46 percent) 

wells as opposed to 9 of 37 wells (24 percent) with no 

other possible bacteria sources. At least one of the 

three bacteria types was found in samples of untreated 

water in 32 of the 50 wells. At 21 of the 32 wells with 

bacteria present, there was no treatment of the ground 

water to remove bacteria.
5HODWLRQRI%DFWHULDLQ:HOOVWR6HSWLF6\VWHPV 
10 Relation of Bacteria in Limestone Aquifers to Septic Systems in Berkeley County, West Virginia
Summary and Conclusions 11

Summary and Conclusions

Of 50 wells sampled for fecal coliform, total coliform, 

and E. coli bacteria in Berkeley County, West Virginia, 

62 percent (31 wells) contained total coliform bacteria, 

32 percent (16 wells) contained E. coli, and 30 percent 

(15 wells) contained fecal coliform bacteria, indicating 

probable bacterial contamination of portions of the 

limestone aquifers in which the wells are completed. 

Bacteria were found in many wells regardless of the 

number of septic systems in a 5-acre circular area 

around each well. No apparent correlation was found 

between septic-system density and concentration of 

colonies detected. The rapid rate of ground-water flow 

within the limestone aquifers and the complexity of 

structural controls on ground-water movement through 

the limestone aquifers may mask the effect of septic 

systems on the microbiological quality of ground 

water. There is also little difference in the frequency of 

total coliform bacteria detection between shallow and 

deep wells; however, the greatest concentrations of E. 

coli and fecal coliform bacteria occurred in the shallowest wells. At least one of the three bacteria types 

was found in samples of untreated water in 32 of the 

50 wells. At 21 of the 32 wells with bacteria present, 

there was no treatment of the ground water to remove 

bacteria, indicating that additional well owners might 

wish to consider some type of treatment, such as chlorination or ultraviolet lights, to effectively kill bacteria 

in ground water before use.

References Cited

Dean, S.L., Kulander, B.R., and Lessing, Peter, 1987, Geology of the Hedgesville, Keedysville, Martinsburg, 

Shepherdstown, and Williamsport quadrangles, Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, West Virginia: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey Map WV-31, 

scale 1:24,000, 1 sheet.

Eychaner, J.H., 1998, What’s normal? – Constituent concentrations in West Virginia streamflow, ground water, 

streambed sediment, and fish tissue, in West Virginia 

Non-Point Source Conference, Charleston, 1998, Proceedings: West Virginia Division of Environmental 
12 Relation of Bacteria in Limestone Aquifers to Septic Systems in Berkeley County, West Virginia

Protection and West Virginia Soil Conservation 

Agency, p. 38-53.

Grimsley, G.P., 1916, Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan 

County report: West Virginia Geological Survey 

County Report 1916, 644 p., 3 maps.

Hobba, W. A., Jr., 1976, Ground-water hydrology of Berkeley County, West Virginia: West Virginia Geological 

and Economic Survey Environmental Geology Bulletin 13, 21 p.

Myers, D.N., and Sylvester, M.A., 1997, Fecal indicator 

bacteria, in Myers, D.N., and Wilde, F.D., eds., Biological indicators: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of 

Water-Resources Investigations, Book 9, chapter A7.

Shultz, R.A., Hobba, W.A., Jr., and Kozar, M.D., 1995, 

Geohydrology, ground-water availability, and groundwater quality of Berkeley County, West Virginia, with 

emphasis on the carbonate-rock area: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report

93-4073, 88 p.

Taylor, L.E., 1974, Bedrock geology and its influence on 

ground-water resources in the Hedgesville and Williamsport 7 1⁄2-minute quadrangles, Berkeley County, 

West Virginia: Toledo, Ohio, The University of 

Toledo, unpublished Master’s thesis, 82 p.

U.S. Department of Commerce, 1991, Comparison of 1980 

and 1990 population data West Virginia and counties: 

U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 

Washington, D.C., 9 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1986, Quality Criteria for water--1986: USEPA Office of Water, EPA 

440/5-89-001 [variously paged]. 

West Virginia Department of Agriculture, 1990, West Virginia Agricultural Statistics—1990: Office of West 

Virginia Agricultural Statistics Annual Bulletin No. 21, 

46 p.

West Virginia State Code of Regulations, Title 64-Legislative Rule Division of Health, Series 9-Sewer Systems, 

Sewage Treatment Systems, and Sewage Tank Cleaners (64 CSR 9-3.5.a)

Zewe, B.T., 1991, The influence of lineaments and hydrogeologic setting on well yield in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, West Virginia: Morgantown, West 

Virginia, West Virginia University, Department of 

Geology, Master’s thesis, 232 p.