Faecal-indicator concentrations in waters draining lowland pastoral catchments in the UK: relationships with land use and farming practices

摘要: Faecal-indicator budget studies have shown marine bathing water quality at two small UK coastal resorts, Staithes and Newport, to be adversely affected by riverine inputs from lowland pastoral catchments (J. Chartered Inst. Water Environ. Mangt. 12 (1998) 414). The present paper reports on presumptive coliform (PC), Escherichia coli (PE) streptococci (PS) concentrations 43 sampling points watercourses within these catchments, their relationship with land use livestock-related management practices, such as grazing slurry/manure applications. results show > 10-fold elevations in geometric mean faecal-indicator under high-flow conditions, compared low flow, maximum PC, PE PS of 2.6 x 10(6), 1.8 10(6) 4.4 10(5) cfu/100 ml, respectively. High-flow exhibit highly significant positive correlations use/management variables associated intensive livestock farming, both the individual combined. Additional factors, antecedent weather conditions topography, contribute inter-catchment variability quality. Although diffuse point sources pollution were not quantified, (e.g. runoff farm yards) seem likely significant. findings suggest that it may possible develop generic statistical models predict microbial data. They also provide indirect evidence channel bed sediment 'stores' closely reflect there is little die-off organisms along watercourses.