| Human and animal faecal pollution affects environmental water in inland and coastal areas, with negative implications for recreational uses, public safety and shellfish sanitary status due to the presence of enteric pathogens. Starting from 2011, the revised Bathing Water European Directive (2006/7/CE) requires the establishment of bathing water profiles with an inventory and study of the pollution sources likely to affect water quality. The faecal microbiological indicators used in these regulations, Escherichia coli and enteroccoci, cannot distinguish between human and animal faecal contamination. Thus, alternative methods, that focus on target microorganisms such as bacteria belonging to the Bacteroidales order were developed or are being developed to... |
