Coastal and Estuarine Bacteria Loads for Source Apportionment

Abstract

The causes of poor bathing water and shellfish water quality represent a significant challenge for the UK water industry. This project has assessed the abundance of faecal indicator organisms (FIOs) in estuarine waters and sediments, with a particular focus on ‘viable but non-culturable’ (VBNC) bacteria, and on viruses. Two study areas were selected for sampling - the Ribble and Conwy estuaries. The results suggest that the VBNC fraction of FIOs in sediments may be significant, especially in the winter. Small quantities of Norovirus were only found at two sampling points in the Ribble, and in the winter only.  Results also indicated that cohesive sediments harbour more bacteria than non-cohesive sediments and the water column. This work has proposed practical recommendations for improving the existing monitoring and modelling framework, which will assist the UK water industry in making more efficient investment planning decisions to improve coastal/estuarine water quality.

Publishing

UKWIR Reference:- 16/WW/11/14

Published Date:- 27/05/2016

Retail Price (£):- 10

ISBN:- 1 84057 817 3

 

Supporting Material

   Bacteria loads source apportion data

 Appendix 1 Literature review 

The causes of poor bathing water and shellfish water quality represent a significant challenge for the UK water industry. This project has assessed the abundance of faecal indicator organisms (FIOs) in estuarine waters and sediments, with a particular focus on ‘viable but non-culturable’ (VBNC) bacteria, and on viruses. Two study areas were selected for sampling - the Ribble and Conwy estuaries. The results suggest that the VBNC fraction of FIOs in sediments may be significant, especially in the winter. Small quantities of Norovirus were only found at two sampling points in the Ribble, and in the winter only.  Results also indicated that cohesive sediments harbour more bacteria than non-cohesive sediments and the water column. This work has proposed practical recommendations for improving the existing monitoring and modelling framework, which will assist the UK water industry in making more efficient investment planning decisions to improve coastal/estuarine water quality.


 Appendix 2 Enumeration of viable but non-culturable E. coli/coliforms in the Conwy estuary - a water quality perspective. 

The causes of poor bathing water and shellfish water quality represent a significant challenge for the UK water industry. This project has assessed the abundance of faecal indicator organisms (FIOs) in estuarine waters and sediments, with a particular focus on ‘viable but non-culturable’ (VBNC) bacteria, and on viruses. Two study areas were selected for sampling - the Ribble and Conwy estuaries. The results suggest that the VBNC fraction of FIOs in sediments may be significant, especially in the winter. Small quantities of Norovirus were only found at two sampling points in the Ribble, and in the winter only.  Results also indicated that cohesive sediments harbour more bacteria than non-cohesive sediments and the water column. This work has proposed practical recommendations for improving the existing monitoring and modelling framework, which will assist the UK water industry in making more efficient investment planning decisions to improve coastal/estuarine water quality.


 Summary Slides 

The causes of poor bathing water and shellfish water quality represent a significant challenge for the UK water industry. This project has assessed the abundance of faecal indicator organisms (FIOs) in estuarine waters and sediments, with a particular focus on ‘viable but non-culturable’ (VBNC) bacteria, and on viruses. Two study areas were selected for sampling - the Ribble and Conwy estuaries. The results suggest that the VBNC fraction of FIOs in sediments may be significant, especially in the winter. Small quantities of Norovirus were only found at two sampling points in the Ribble, and in the winter only.  Results also indicated that cohesive sediments harbour more bacteria than non-cohesive sediments and the water column. This work has proposed practical recommendations for improving the existing monitoring and modelling framework, which will assist the UK water industry in making more efficient investment planning decisions to improve coastal/estuarine water quality.