The effect of sampling frequency and spatial and temporal variation in the density of fecal indicator bacteria on the assessment of coastal bathing water quality.

The time and location of sampling as well as the number of samples per season can influence a reliable assessment of bathing water quality. In this study, we investigated the spatio-temporal variation of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) density and the effects of FIB variability and sampling frequency on the assessment of a single sample and the annual and final assessment of coastal bathing water quality. Increasing the number of samples from 10 to 20 per bathing season had a significant impact on bathing water quality assessment at sites where water quality fluctuations had previously been observed, resulting in a change in water quality to a lower category in 36 % of annual and 54 % of final assessments, suggesting that the minimum number of samples per season should be increased at such sites.

Performance characteristics of the temperature-modified ISO 9308-1 method for the enumeration of Escherichia coli in marine and inland bathing waters.

This study defines performance characteristics of the temperature-modified ISO 9308-1 method for E. coli enumeration in bathing water. After a 4-hour resuscitation period at 36 ± 2 °C, the incubation temperature was changed to 44 ± 0.

Status of faecal pollution in ports: A basin-wide investigation in the Adriatic Sea.

Ports are subject to a variety of anthropogenic impacts, and there is mounting evidence of faecal contamination through several routes. Yet, little is known about pollution in ports by faecal indicator bacteria (FIB). FIB spatio-temporal dynamics were assessed in 12 ports of the Adriatic Sea, a semi-enclosed basin under strong anthropogenic pressure, and their relationships with environmental variables were explored to gain insight into pollution sources.