Microbiological monitoring of bivalves from the Ria Formosa Lagoon (south coast of Portugal): a 20 years of sanitary survey

The microbiological pollution of coastal waters is a major problem, especially in shellfish areas. This article shows the faecal contamination in bivalves from the Ria Formosa Lagoon (south coast of Portugal) along 20 years (1990-2009). The highest values of Escherichia coli in bivalves were obtained during the 90s, related with the discharge of untreated wastewaters and agricultural runoff. In the 2000s contamination levels decreased, with 83% of the population already served by new or remodelled sewage treatment plants. The highest levels were found in bivalves close to the largest city, where punctual and diffuse contamination sources still exist. Bivalves from the less impacted site showed the lowest contamination, an area with more water renewal. Seasonally, the highest levels were in autumn and winter, due to the runoff of waters from rainfall. These were opposite to those in spring and summer, when the highest temperatures and salinity showed a bactericidal effect.     

Bathing waters: New directive, new standards, new quality approach

Bathing water quality is an important public health issue, mainly because of fecal contamination. In 2006, the European Commission (EC) adopted a new directive with respect to recreational bathing waters that calls for stricter standards and reduces the number of laboratory tests done in routine beach monitoring from nineteen to two bacterial indicators, namely, Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci, replacing policies of the EC Bathing Water Directive that have existed since 1976. Our practice in Portugal is in line with this international development, and this study demonstrates the equivalency of the new bacteriological parameters with the old. The water quality of 25 coastal beaches was surveyed using both new and old microbiological indicators of fecal contamination. Statistical analysis demonstrated equivalency of the results obtained for fecal coliforms with Escherichia coli and for fecal streptococci with intestinal enterococci.