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Coliform bacteria in San Pedro Lake, western Mexico
Author(s) -
RamosRamírez Lesset del Consuelo,
RomeroBañuelos Carlos Alberto,
JiménezRuíz Edgar Iván,
PalominoHermosillo Yolotzin Apatzingan,
SaldañaAhuactzi Zeus,
MartínezLaguna Ygnacio,
HandalSilva Anabella,
CastañedaRoldán Elsa Iracena
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.1002/wer.1423
Subject(s) - oreochromis , fecal coliform , gill , environmental science , water quality , watershed , hydrology (agriculture) , nile tilapia , population , surface water , veterinary medicine , dry season , water cycle , tilapia , ecology , biology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , environmental engineering , medicine , demography , geotechnical engineering , machine learning , sociology , computer science , engineering
Urbanization, livestock activities, and rainfall are factors that contribute to the contamination of inland water. This study aimed to determine the spatial and temporal variability of total coliforms (TCs) and fecal coliforms (FCs) in the surface water of San Pedro Lake as well as the gills and skin of Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) cultivated in the lake. The study consisted of seasonal sampling during an annual cycle. Using the multiple‐tube fermentation technique, we quantified the microbial load of TCs in the lake and fish. The median of the TC and FC groups in surface water showed differences during the seasonal cycle, in which a significant correlation was observed between rainfall and bacterial load in the lake surface water. There was a significant seasonal difference between FCs and TCs in the gills as well as in skin FCs. Anthropogenic activities in the watershed combined with rainfall influence the bacterial load of San Pedro Lake. However, the water quality is still classified as excellent and uncontaminated according to Mexican regulations with lower FC values acceptable for higher FC values. In addition, the bacterial load in tilapia from San Pedro Lake does not pose a risk to human health. Practitioner points Watershed livestock activities combined with rainfall increase fecal matter pollution in specific areas of the lake. San Pedro Lake displays satisfactory quality for aquatic life. The median fecal coliform population in lake fish (gills and skin) differs by season.