Subsurface or in-situ iron removal involves the injection of aerated water into an anaerobic
aquifer. Processes of adsorption, oxidation and precipitation result in reduced iron
concentrations in the abstracted water. However, subsurface treatment has also an effect on
arsenic and phosphate levels in the groundwater. Arsenic, phosphate and iron show a similar
pattern during an injection-abstraction cycle. Once injection is stopped for a longer period,
iron and arsenic concentrations increase significantly, the occurrence of arsenic
remobilization is, however, not certain. The enhanced nitrification on the dry biofilters after
subsurface treatment has been observed as another beneficial side effect. In this study
ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), and G. ferruginea were identified to
be present at higher levels in the subsurface aerated water than in reference (i.e., backgound)
groundwater especially at the beginning of the abstraction period. G. ferruginea could
influence iron oxidation and removal in biofilters in a similar way as was previously
hypothesized for iron colloids. Includes 23 references, table, figures.