Quantitative determination of fecal coliforms in the sand of the beaches of Santos (São Paulo, Brazil) Alessandro Alves de Almeida, Fernanda Hartmann Silva, Camila Silva Fonseca, Luciana Lopes Guimarães

Abstract

The present study aimed to quantitatively determine the occurrence of coliforms as indicators of fecal contamination in the sand of Santos beaches. Sediment samples were taken along the beach, the sample was taken to the laboratory and submitted to analysis using the membrane filtration technique. Colonies of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus were identified and counted. Point 6 located at Gonzaga Beach showed lower levels for E. coli contamination and at Point 7 located at Boqueirão Beach showed lower levels for Enterococcus contamination.