[Experimental study of bacteriophage removal from the lagoon basin].

Polluted river water was studied in an experimental lagoon to determine efficiency of removal of bacteriophages injected at the inlet of the lagoon. The bacteriophages were not significantly affected by the purification process and were found to migrate to the outlet in 4 to 5 days. They were detected 143 days after injection although about 80% of the added virus was removed by the lagoon treatment. These results contrast with those obtained with Salmonella, 99.9% of which were removed.