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Spatial and temporal dynamics of bacterial contamination in South France coastal rivers: focus on in‐stream processes during low flows and floods
Author(s) -
Chu Y.,
Tournoud M. G.,
Salles C.,
Got P.,
Perrin J. L.,
Rodier C.,
Caro A.,
Troussellier M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/hyp.9900
Subject(s) - environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , flood myth , sediment , contamination , indicator bacteria , fecal coliform , pollution , mediterranean climate , streams , flow conditions , water quality , flow (mathematics) , ecology , geology , geography , biology , paleontology , geometry , mathematics , archaeology , computer network , geotechnical engineering , computer science
Abstract Faecal indicator bacteria (thermotolerant coliform and faecal streptococci) were enumerated in a Mediterranean coastal river to evaluate bacterial contamination levels in relation to hydrological conditions, to estimate delivery of bacterial loads to transitional and coastal waters (Thau lagoon) and to identify bacterial sources of pollution and their contribution to the bacterial flow. Results showed that (1) in low flow conditions, mean bacterial concentrations were higher than EU guidelines for bathing waters; (2) floods had higher concentrations of indicator bacteria than low flows; (3) low flow conditions represented a negligible proportion of bacterial loads compared with high flow and flood periods; (4) during medium and low flow conditions, bacteria were stored in riverbed fine sediments forming in‐stream stores that may be flushed during floods; (5) the first flush effect was highlighted during an early autumn flood as was the role of in‐stream stores during the course of the flood; and (6) point sources that continuously feed the river are contributing to the pool of bacteria accumulated in the riverbed sediment. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.