It is presented an analysis of several indicators of water quality in Santiago de Cuba bay and of the bacteriological state in five of its beaches. Samples were taken in surface and 8 m deep. A low transparency of the waters was detected, associated with high levels of ammonium, total phosphorus and chlorophyll. In surface the dissolved oxygen had high levels, but in 8 m there was anoxia in the most interior stations. The thermotolerant coliforms reached high concentrations in the stations of the central axis, but in the beahes, only El Níspero was not appropriate for direct contact, in accordance with the current cuban standard. By means of a principal components analysis it was determined that high ammonium and total phosphorus concentrations were... |