ESTUDIO DE ALGUNOS ASPECTOS ECOLOGICOS Y DE LA CONTAMINACION BACTERIANA EN LA BAHIA DE SANTA MARTA, CARIBE COLOMBIANO

Abstract

The fecal contamination of the Bay of Santa Marta was investigated between July 1979 and March 1980. The organisms used were total coliforms, faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci. Abiotic factors such as temperature, salinity and water transparency were also measured. The presence of Sdmonella in recreational waters was investigated sporadically. The results of this study have indicated severe contamination in the port zone (station 5), the mouth of Manzanares river (station 11), and around the Boquerón sector (station 22), where the raw sewage is discharged . Significant values of total coliforms above the international standard lower limits were detected at themunicipal beach (station 10) during the rainy season months. The levels of total coliforms fluctuated betwwn 0 and 1.4x10t colonies/ml. The biochemical identification of bacteria of the genus Salmonella gives evidence for the potencial danger that exists,at the bathing sectors near the sewage discharge sites.