Movement of total and fecal coliorms were studued in a riparian overland flow system receiving swine wastewater. Wastewater was applied in a single pulse during four different seasons, and soil water and groundwater were collected at four different depths and distances from the source. Total and fecal coliform bacteria survival was measured by sampling 2-4 days prior to wastewater application and 1, 3, 7, 14 and 90-120 days after the application of swine wastewater.

The results indicated that: 1) total and fecal bacteria counts did not decrease in the wastewater as water moved downslope regardless of vegatation type or season, 2) total and fecal coliform bacteria counts were different in the three types of vegatative filters used. 3) total and fecal coliform counts decreases by one magnitude every seven days regardless of the vegatative treatment orseason. 4) total and fecal coliform bacteria were positively correlated to groundwater temperature and soil moisture 5) total and fecal coliform levels were lower in groundwater immediately prrior to the application of swine wastwater and were usually less than the control (area of vegatation that previously had no wastewater applied).