Species Assemblages of Enterococcus Indicate Potential Sources of Fecal Bacteria at a South Florida Recreational Beach

Species assemblages of Enterococcus indicating potential sources of fecal bacteria at a south Florida recreational beach are examined. The levels of fecal indicator bacteria in water are often used to assess the hygienic quality of the water. At recreational beaches, the numbers of enterococci, feca...

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Published inMarine pollution bulletin Vol. 52; no. 7; p. 800
Main Authors Bonilla, Tonya D, Nowosielski, Kara, Esiobu, Nwadiuto, McCorquodale, Donald S, Rogerson, Andrew
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 01.07.2006
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Summary:Species assemblages of Enterococcus indicating potential sources of fecal bacteria at a south Florida recreational beach are examined. The levels of fecal indicator bacteria in water are often used to assess the hygienic quality of the water. At recreational beaches, the numbers of enterococci, fecal coliforms, and/or E. coli can be used to gauge water quality. These bacteria are concentrated in fecal and sewage wastes, and their detection in environmental samples may indicate the presence of fecal pollution. The abundance of indicator organisms must reflect the relative risk of encountering enteric pathogens however this is not always the case since indicator organisms are not solely derived from fecal wastes. A two-year indicator study of three popular bathing beaches in south Florida shows that while the numbers of enterococci in seawater rarely exceed regulatory standards, levels in sand are substantial.
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ISSN:0025-326X