2013 Bacteriological Sampling in Perdido Bay using Coliscan MF without incubation



A fecal coliform count of over 200 bacteria/100 mls of water indicates the water may be unsafe for swimming.

A total coliform count over 2,400 bacteria/100 mls of water indicates swimming may be unsafe. It should be noted that the bacteria plates are grown at room temperature (25 C) and not at human body temperature.

Papermills and sugar producers discharge large amounts of organic matter which are degraded by bacteria. Many of these bacteria are in the coliform family. A pathogenic bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae, is a coliform and associated with wastes of high organic content. These wastes reduce the dissolved oxygen in water because the bacteria use up the oxygen.

Salinity of 0 PPT would be fresh water; sea water would have a salinity of approximately 36 PPT.

Perdido Bay above Lillian Bridge- Millview, FL; 30 24 50N/87 22 23W
DATE - 2013 Fecal Coliform - #/100 mls water Total Coliform - #/100 mls water Water Temperature - °F Salinity - PPT Observations
April 30, 2013 508,000 508,000 78 12 water dark and turbid
May 6, 2013 3,700 9,100 68 6 dark and turbid
June 3, 2013 4,100 4,100 88 8.5 Water very dark and turbid
July 14, 2013 2,000 3,400 83 0 Water is very, very dark and turbid
August 14, 2013 9,600 21,600 84 0.6 Water is very, very dark and turbid
October 5, 2013 4,400 4,900 83 14 Water is turbid
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