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Microbiological Quality of Surface Drainage Water From Three Small Irrigated Watersheds in Southern Idaho¹

ABSTRACT

The irrigation waters applied to and the surface drainage waters leaving three small watersheds in southern Idaho were analyzed for coliforms and other microorganisms and for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). Numbers of coliforms and fecal coliforms tended to be greater in the drainage than in the irrigation water, but the differences were generally within the confidence limits for Most Probable Numbers analyses. Fecal streptococci numbers were higher in the drainage than in the irrigation water on two of the three small watersheds. The numbers of fecal streptococci and microorganisms incubated at 20C were higher in the drainage than the irrigation water; otherwise, the bacteriological quality of the irrigation water was not significantly changed by irrigation use. BOD in the drainage water samples averaged 4 mg/liter oxygen demand compared with 2 mg/liter oxygen demand in the irrigation water.

Key Words: coliforms • fecal coliforms • fecal streptococci • surface runoff

¹ Contribution from the Northwest Branch, Agricultural Research Service, USDA; Idaho Agr. Exp. Sta. cooperating.

² Soil Scientists, Snake River Conservation Research Center, Kimberly, Idaho 83341.

Received for publication March 10, 1972.