Monitoring the quality of the bathing waters of Gipuzkoa (the Basque Country, Spain) makes it possible to assess the suitability of its 15 beaches for bathing throughout each season. In 1998, the parameters E. coli, somatic coliphages (SOMCPH) and F-specific RNA bacteriophages (FRNAPH) were incorporated into the bathing water quality monitoring system. This enabled the study of the link between bacterial and viral indicators as well as the analysis of the ratios between both types of indicators in waters with different levels of pollution. Although bacterial indicators (total coliforms (TC) and faecal coliforms (FC)) and enterococci showed a strong correlation between them, the correlations between the viral indicators and between the viral and bacterial indicators were weaker, though significant in all cases. The ratio between SOMCPH and E. coli indicates that at low levels of bacterial pollution (E coli <100 MPN/100 ml) SOMCPH outnumber E coli. In contrast, at higher levels of pollution (E coli >100 MPN/100 ml), SOMCPH numbers are lower than those of E-coli. The data reveal the presence of viral indicators in waters classified as suitable for bathing by the European Directive and alert us to their suitability.
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Research Article|
March 01 2007
Somatic coliphages and bacterial indicators of bathing water quality in the beaches of Gipuzkoa, Spain
Jesús M. Ibarluzea;
1Subdirección de Salud Pública de Gipuzkoa, The Basque Government's Health Department, Avda. de Navarra 24, 20013 San Sebastian, Spain
Tel.:+34 943 022 749 Fax: +34 943 022 710; E-mail: [email protected]
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Belén Moreno;
Belén Moreno
2Public Health Laboratory of Gipuzkoa, The Basque Government's Health Department, Avda. de Navarra 24, 20013, San Sebastian, Spain
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Elena Serrano;
Elena Serrano
3Public Health Centre of Urola, C/Salegui 14, 20800 Zarautz, Spain
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Karmele Larburu;
Karmele Larburu
4Public Health Centre of Bidasoa, Avda. Navarra 41, 20302 Irun, Spain
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María J. Maiztegi;
María J. Maiztegi
5Public Health Centre of Deba, Jardines de Argatxa 1, 20600 Eibar, Spain
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Asunción Yarzabal;
Asunción Yarzabal
6Department of Health, Environment and Consumption, San Sebastian City Council, C/Manuel Lecuona 7, 20013, San Sebastian, Spain
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Loreto Santa Marina
Loreto Santa Marina
1Subdirección de Salud Pública de Gipuzkoa, The Basque Government's Health Department, Avda. de Navarra 24, 20013 San Sebastian, Spain
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J Water Health (2007) 5 (3): 417–426.
Citation
Jesús M. Ibarluzea, Belén Moreno, Elena Serrano, Karmele Larburu, María J. Maiztegi, Asunción Yarzabal, Loreto Santa Marina; Somatic coliphages and bacterial indicators of bathing water quality in the beaches of Gipuzkoa, Spain. J Water Health 1 September 2007; 5 (3): 417–426. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2007.037
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