Analysis of the Treatment of Synthetic Bathing Waters and Their Effects on Seedlings

Synthetically produced bathing waters and their effect on seedlings were analysed in our research. The artificially produced bath waters were treated in different ways. Primarily, simple filtration was performed through a layer of silica sand. During the tests, the obtained greywater was investigated before and after the treatment with the help of various water quality parameters. Irrigation was set as the goal of recycling, and germination experiments were performed on mustard seeds. In these experiments, the synthetically generated treated and untreated bath water was used as irrigation water. Considering the results obtained during the germination, it can be said that the treatment is necessary in any case. Based on the results, it was shown that the filtration was not sufficient, so coagulation was used as an additional treatment method, for which we determined the optimal amount of treatment agent as a starting step.

Inland and Coastal Bathing Water Quality in the Last Decade (2011–2020): Croatia vs. Region vs. EU

Europe is one of the leading tourist destinations where tourism is one of the key economic sectors. The quality of bathing waters is a very important factor when choosing a vacation destination. Croatia recognized this early and was one of the first Mediterranean countries to start systematic monitoring of bathing waters. On the other hand, monitoring of inland bathing waters is relatively new and includes a much smaller number of sites (41) compared to coastal waters (894). The aim of this paper was to summarize and analyze the water quality of inland and coastal bathing sites of Croatia, closer regions (non-EU Member States) and in the EU for the last decade. The share of excellent water quality in EU Member States increased by 10.1% and 6.6% for inland and coastal waters, respectively (2011–2020). Germany recorded the highest proportion of excellent water quality for inland waters (92.2%) and Cyprus for coastal waters (99.3%). Looking at the 10-year average of the proportion of bathing waters with excellent quality, the proportion of coastal bathing sites exceeds that of inland waters by 7.1%. It is clear that additional efforts should be made to improve the management and monitoring of inland waters.

Bacterial and Bacteriophage Antibiotic Resistance in Marine Bathing Waters in Relation to Rivers and Urban Streams

Fecal pollution of surface water may introduce bacteria and bacteriophages harboring antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) into the aquatic environment. Watercourses discharging into the marine environment, especially close to designated bathing waters, may expose recreational users to fecal pollution and therefore may increase the likelihood that they will be exposed to ARGs. This study compares the bacterial and bacteriophage ARG profiles of two rivers (River Tolka and Liffey) and two small urban streams (Elm Park and Trimleston Streams) that discharge close to two marine bathing waters in Dublin Bay. Despite the potential differences in pollution pressures experienced by these waterways, microbial source tracking analysis showed that the main source of pollution in both rivers and streams in the urban environment is human contamination. All ARGs included in this study, blaTEM, blaSHV, qnrS, and sul1, were present in all four waterways in both the bacterial and bacteriophage fractions, displaying a similar ARG profile. We show that nearshore marine bathing waters are strongly influenced by urban rivers and streams discharging into these, since they shared a similar ARG profile. In comparison to rivers and streams, the levels of bacterial ARGs were significantly reduced in the marine environment. In contrast, the bacteriophage ARG levels in freshwater and the marine were not significantly different. Nearshore marine bathing waters could therefore be a potential reservoir of bacteriophages carrying ARGs. In addition to being considered potential additional fecal indicators organism, bacteriophages may also be viewed as indicators of the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

BATHING WATER QUALITY IN DOBRICH REGION ON THE NORTHEAST BLACK SEA COAST

The quality of bathing water in Europe has remained high for decades. Bathing sites meet the highest and strictest "excellent" quality standards of the European Union. Aim and task: to make a comparative characteristic of the quality of bathing water in Dobrich region in the Northern Black Sea coastal region for 2018-2013 and 20142018. Materials: Seawater samples 880 pieces(2008-2013) pieces+740 pieces (2014-2018), in sterile glass bottles of 300-500 ml, sampled by RHI Dobrich, results of microbiological studies of seawater, reports, analyzes. Methods: documentary, laboratory, statistical, graphic. Results: The comparative analysis of the quality of bathing waters in two periods of 6 years (2008 - 2013) and 5 years (2014-2018) in the Northeast Black Sea coastal region of Dobrich District is based on the studied 20 sampling points. For 2008 - In 2013, non-standard seawater samples were detected by an average of 17.04%, with the highest relative share of 32.4% in 2011 and 31.69% in 2009, after which it dropped sharply to 0.70% in 2012 and 4.92% in 2013. The analysis of bathing water in the period 2014-2018 shows that in 75% of the points they have "excellent" assessment and 25% in "good". Conclusions: 1. There is no health risk of pollution of sea water used for bathing in the summer season 20082013.2. Deviations with non-standard samples and repeatability during the two periods (2008 - 2013 and 20142018) are in two points - Bozhurets and Krapets-North.3.At the checkpoint Fish-Fish and Rusalka the bathing waters have improved the indicator from “good” to “Excellent”.

Identifying Sources of Faecal Contamination in a Small Urban Stream Catchment: A Multiparametric Approach

Small urban streams discharging in the proximity of bathing waters may significantly contribute to the deterioration of water quality, yet their impact may be overlooked. This study focuses on the Elm Park stream in the city of Dublin that is subject to faecal contamination by unidentified sources. The aim of the study was to identify a minimum number of “sentinel” sampling stations in an urban catchment that would provide the maximum amount of information regarding faecal pollution in the catchment. Thus, high-resolution sampling within the catchment was carried out over the course of 1 year at 11 stations. Faecal indicator bacteria were enumerated and microbial source tracking (MST) was employed to evaluate human pollution. In addition, ammonium, total oxidised nitrogen, and phosphorus levels were monitored to determine if these correlated with faecal indicator and the HF183 MST marker. In addition, the effect of severe weather events on water quality was assessed using automated sampling at one of the identified “sentinel” stations during baseflow and high flow conditions over a 24-h period. Our results show that this urban stream is at times highly contaminated by point source faecal pollution and that human faecal pollution is pervasive in the catchment. Correlations between ammonium concentrations and faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) as well as the human MST marker were observed during the study. Cluster analysis identified four “sentinel” stations that provide sufficient information on faecal pollution in the stream, thus reducing the geographical complexity of the catchment. Furthermore, ammonium levels strongly correlated with FIB and the human HF183 MST marker under high flow conditions at key “sentinel” stations. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of pairing MST, faecal indicators, and ammonium monitoring to identify “sentinel” stations that could be more rapidly assessed using real-time ammonium readouts to assess remediation efforts.

Water quality assessment for beach balneability on the beach Beira Rio - Porto Nacional – TO / Avaliação da qualidade das águas para balneabilidade na praia Beira Rio – Porto Nacional – TO

The Tocantins River has abundant water resources and favorable conditions for recreational activities, with emphasis on the beautiful natural beaches formed along its length. However, it is worth noting that the main contact entertainment and leisure activities require specific health and safety standards for bathing purposes. This study evaluated the water quality of Praia Beira Rio, in Porto Nacional-Tocantins, in only one point. For this purpose, microbiological analysis was performed using indicators of total coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli) following the method described by APHA (2005). The monitoring results were compared with the parameters for bathing purposes defined in CONAMA Resolution 274/00. To detect and identify total coliforms and Escherichia coli, the Colilert technique was used. The Escherichia coli content was low, allowing bathing waters to be classified as their own, according to CONAMA Resolution No. 274/00, and subdivided into the "excellent" category. Therefore, according to the bacterial indicators of the Escherichia coli group, during the analysis period, the waters of Praia Beira Rio were within the standards for primary contact recreation.

Modelling the Quality of Bathing Waters in the Adriatic Sea

The aim of this study is to develop a relocatable modelling system able to describe the microbial contamination that affects the quality of coastal bathing waters. Pollution events are mainly triggered by urban sewer outflows during massive rainy events, with relevant negative consequences on the marine environment and tourism and related activities of coastal towns. A finite element hydrodynamic model was applied to five study areas in the Adriatic Sea, which differ for urban, oceanographic and morphological conditions. With the help of transport-diffusion and microbial decay modules, the distribution of Escherichia coli was investigated during significant events. The numerical investigation was supported by detailed in situ observational datasets. The model results were evaluated against water level, sea temperature, salinity and E. coli concentrations acquired in situ, demonstrating the capacity of the modelling suite in simulating the circulation in the coastal areas of the Adriatic Sea, as well as several main transport and diffusion dynamics, such as riverine and polluted waters dispersion. Moreover, the results of the simulations were used to perform a comparative analysis among the different study sites, demonstrating that dilution and mixing, mostly induced by the tidal action, had a stronger effect on bacteria reduction with respect to microbial decay. Stratification and estuarine dynamics also play an important role in governing microbial concentration. The modelling suite can be used as a beach management tool for improving protection of public health, as required by the EU Bathing Water Directive.