E. coli/enterococci in the sand; Water Research, Volume 37,Issue 16, Pages 3978-3982

["Shannon Briggs" <BRIGGSSL@michigan.gov>]

FYI: I received questions about this topic recently and I am posting it in case anyone else finds it helpful.

Fecal indicator bacteria are abundant in wet sand at freshwater beaches,
Water Research, Volume 37, Issue 16, Pages 3978-3982 (September 2003)
Elizabeth Wheeler Alm, Janice Burke and Anne Spain
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=GatewayURL&_method=citationSearch&_uoikey=B6V73-48V7W71-6&_origin=EMFR&_version=1&md5=b6276afa56b7442f32a9d85113d53eb3

Abstract    
Potential fecal contamination of sand in the wave-washed zone of public bathing beaches is overlooked in beach monitoring programs. Activity in this zone can bring pathogens to the sand surface or into the water, presenting a health risk to sensitive populations. On a unit weight basis (colony forming units per 100 g), the mean summer abundance of the fecal indicator bacteria enterococci and Escherichia coli was 3*38 times higher in the top 20 cm of wet-sand cores than in the water column at six freshwater bathing beaches. E. coli were 4 times more abundant than enterococci in water but counts were similar in the sand. A correlation (r=0.60) existed between E. coli counts in the water and in the top 5 cm of sand only, whereas no relationship existed between enterococci abundance in water and sand. In general, enterococci were most numerous in the 5*10 cm sand stratum and E. coli in the 0*5 cm stratum. These preliminary data show that wet freshwater beach sand is a reservoir of fecal indicator bacteria. Enteric pathogens may also be present in beach sand. 

Author Keywords: Fecal indicators; Water quality; Beach monitoring; Sand 
Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-989-774-2503; fax: +1-989-774-3462 



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