Microbiological analysis of selected coastal bathing waters in the U.K., Greece, Italy and Spain

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the performance of a selected range of holiday destinations against the microbiological determinants of the European Union bathing water Directive. The destinations were situation in the UK, Greece, Italy, and Spain. The results indicate that five beaches sampled in Spain were all very good microbiological quality. The five Italian beaches all failed at least one of the Mandatory standards for either total or thermotolerant coliforms. The six UK beaches surveyed all passed Mandatory standard for total coliforms but one beach did not comply with the Mandatory standard for thermotolerant coliforms.