Indicator organism sources and coastal water quality: a catchment study on the Island of Jersey

Abstract

Compliance monitoring of bathing waters at La Grève de Lecq on the North coast of Jersey revealed a significant deterioration in water quality between 1992 and 1993, as indexed by presumptive coliform, presumptive Escherichia coli and streptococci concentrations. During the 1993 bathing season the beach failed to attain the compliance with the EC Guideline criteria for presumptive E. coli and streptococci. A bacteriological survey of the stream catchment draining to the beach revealed that: (i) concentrations of faecal indicator organisms were enhanced at high discharge after rainfall; and (ii) a captive water fowl population, which expanded between 1990 and 1993, was a potential source of faecal pollution. Strategies for catchment management are discussed.

Pathogenic Human Viruses in Coastal Waters

“…These authors hypothesized that short, heavy winter rains caused an overload of sewage treatment facilities, resulting in contamination of shellfish beds (92). Whether the source of feces in a given region is due to indigenous wildlife or human populations, precipitation events have been shown to significantly influence microbial water quality by increasing the bioload (33,53,88,109,129,161,165). In a marine virus survival study, 90% inactivation of poliovirus and parvovirus was observed in 1 to 3 days at the highest temperature compared to 10 days at the lowest temperatures.…”

Caffeine as an environmental indicator for assessing urban aquatic ecosystems

“…Marker microorganisms are used to predict the presence of (and/or minimize the potential risk associated with) pathogenic microbes. Marker organisms are useful in that they circumvent the need to conduct assays for every pathogen potentially present in water 7,8 . Ideally, indicators are non-pathogenic, rapidly detected, and easily enumerated, have survival characteristics similar to those of the relevant pathogens, and can be strongly associated with the presence of pathogenic microorganisms.…”

“…Even as microbial indicators can be useful for predicting the possible presence of fecal contamination in water, their inadequacy as tools for risk assessment is also becoming progressively more evident 7 . Microbial technologies have improved their detection, and traditional indicator organisms are used as tools for predicting potential sources of fecal pollution as well as health risks associated with contaminated water systems.…”

“…Numerous pathogens can cause waterborne or water-contact diseases in humans, and their combined effect is highly significant worldwide in terms of both morbidity and mortality 7 . This concept is based on the idea that fecal-oral transmission is the most important route for human waterborne and watercontact diseases.…”

Relations fecal coliforms/ fecal Streptococci as indicators of the origin of fecal pollution in urban and rural water bodies of Temuco, Chile

“…The microbiological indicators frequently used in quality evaluations of continental waters correspond to fecal coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, fecal streptococci and spores of sulfite-reductor anaerobes (Wyer et al, 1995;Gesche et scientific note al., 2003). Unlike pathogenic bacteria, indicator bacteria may be easily detected and quantified by simple and economic methods (Murgel, 1984), allowing the sanitary classification of water for different uses, the determination of criteria and compliance of quality standards, the identification of contaminant discharges, the control of processes of water treatment, and epidemiological studies among others (EPA, 1997;Gesche et al, 2003;Horan, 2003).…”