Relationships between water and sediment quality parameters and faecal bacteria content in the Palic-Ludas canal, Serbia

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to emphasise how faecal bacteria persist in canal sediment and relate abiotic factors in a pen-urban canal. Mann-Whitney tests confirmed that there is a considerable difference in water quality of upstream and downstream ends of the canal, which supports the claim that water quality is affected by wastewater discharge. Strong positive correlations between enterococci and organic matter, TOC and all nitrogen forms in sediment show that the large amount of organic matter in sediment is linked to high enterococcal counts. High counts of E. coli in sediment, as well as weak correlations between E. coli and sediment quality parameters, together with water quality changes, indicate a 'fresh' pollution of aquatic system. In conclusion, our study suggests that wastewater discharge makes a long-term contribution to the increased content of E. cob and enterococci in the Palic-Ludas canal.