Title: Microbiological pollution of surface water in the upper-middle basin of the Reconquista river (Argentina): 2010-2011 monitoring

Authors: Oscar Clemente F. López; Laura Beatriz Duverne; Jimena Olga Mazieres; Alfredo Salibián

Addresses: Departamento de Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Luján, Casilla de Correo 221, B6700ZBA-Luján, Argentina ' Departamento de Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Luján, Casilla de Correo 221, B6700ZBA-Luján, Argentina ' Departamento de Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Luján, Casilla de Correo 221, B6700ZBA-Luján, Argentina ' Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, PRODEA-INEDES, Universidad Nacional de Luján, Casilla de Correo 221, B6700ZBA-Luján, Argentina

Abstract: A microbiological monitoring was conducted on the water at six locations of the Reconquista river, a polluted peri-urban water body of Argentina. Samples were taken from surface water of three tributary streams in the dam outlet and 18 km downstream; samples from the sediments of one of the streams were also taken. For all samples the presence and quantity of coliform bacteria (total coliforms-TC, thermo-tolerant coliforms-TTC), faecal streptococci-FS, enterococci-E, sulphite-reducing anaerobic spores-SRAS and Salmonella-S were determined. The samples of the streams and the site downstream registered figures indicating human faecal pollution; the sediments from the tributary showed lower coliform and streptococci levels than its surface-water; Salmonella was detected in one sample. The results suggested that the dam could contribute to the depuration of the bacterial burden coming from the streams flowing into it.

Keywords: Reconquista river; Argentina; peri-urban rivers; microbiological pollution; pollution monitoring; surface water; sediment; water pollution; dams.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2013.054087

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2013 Vol.6 No.3, pp.276 - 289

Received: 18 Dec 2012
Accepted: 07 Jan 2013
Published online: 21 May 2013 *

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