2015 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. The coliforms are therefore "wild" and not necessarily from human wastes.

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 - 2015 Fecal Coliform - #/100 mls water Total Coliform - #/100 mls water Water Temperature - °F Salinity - PPT Observations
May 31, 2015 2,600 2,600 83 2 water is fairly turbid and slightly greenish
July 8,2015 4,700 4,700 92 4 water is fairly clear. Can see solids settling on bottom
July 12,2015 6,500 6,500 91 4 water is fairly clear. Can see solids settling on bottom
August 3, 2015 13,000 13,000 91 8 water is fairly clear. Can see solids settling on bottom
August 6, 2015 13,800 13,800 92 7 water is fairly turbid.
August 25, 2015 Too Numerous to Count >100,000 Too Numerous to Count >100,000 88 7 water is extremely turbid.
September 13, 2015 2,600 4,000 86 10 water is extremely turbid.
Return to Homepage