MICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF SANDY AQUIFER MATERIAL IN THE LONDON BASIN

As part of a multidisciplinary project, microbiological studies were carried out on cores removed from aquifer sediment from three separate boreholes in the London Basin. This included an assessment of the number of aerobic heterotrophs and the ability to lower the redox potential, remove nitrate, and reduce sulfate in the presence of an organic substrate. The results demonstrated the presence of these bacteria and showed that the microbial potential varied with depth and between the boreholes. The level of water saturation of the sediments and the presence of available indigenous organic matter were factors determining the distribution of these microorganisms.