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Bathing Water Quality Monitoring Practices in Europe and the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Ananda Tiwari

    (Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland)

  • David M. Oliver

    (Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK)

  • Aaron Bivins

    (Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Science, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA)

  • Samendra P. Sherchan

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA)

  • Tarja Pitkänen

    (Expert Microbiology Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland
    Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland)

Abstract

Many countries including EU Member States (EUMS) and the United States (U.S.) regularly monitor the microbial quality of bathing water to protect public health. This study comprehensively evaluates the EU bathing water directive (BWD) and the U.S. recreational water quality criteria (RWQC) as regulatory frameworks for monitoring microbial quality of bathing water. The major differences between these two regulatory frameworks are the provision of bathing water profiles, classification of bathing sites based on the pollution level, variations in the sampling frequency, accepted probable illness risk, epidemiological studies conducted during the development of guideline values, and monitoring methods. There are also similarities between the two approaches given that both enumerate viable fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) as an index of the potential risk to human health in bathing water and accept such risk up to a certain level. However, enumeration of FIB using methods outlined within these current regulatory frameworks does not consider the source of contamination nor variation in inactivation rates of enteric microbes in different ecological contexts, which is dependent on factors such as temperature, solar radiation, and salinity in various climatic regions within their geographical areas. A comprehensive “tool-box approach”, i.e., coupling of FIB and viral pathogen indicators with microbial source tracking for regulatory purposes, offers potential for delivering improved understanding to better protect the health of bathers.

Suggested Citation

  • Ananda Tiwari & David M. Oliver & Aaron Bivins & Samendra P. Sherchan & Tarja Pitkänen, 2021. "Bathing Water Quality Monitoring Practices in Europe and the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-15, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5513-:d:559245
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roger S. Fujioka & Helena M. Solo-Gabriele & Muruleedhara N. Byappanahalli & Marek Kirs, 2015. "U.S. Recreational Water Quality Criteria: A Vision for the Future," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-25, July.
    2. Asja Korajkic & Brian R. McMinn & Valerie J. Harwood, 2018. "Relationships between Microbial Indicators and Pathogens in Recreational Water Settings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-39, December.
    3. Fleisher, J.M. & Kay, D. & Salmon, R.L. & Jones, F. & Wyer, M. & Godfree, A.F., 1996. "Marine waters contaminated with domestic sewage: Nonenteric illnesses associated with bather exposure in the United Kingdom," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 86(9), pages 1228-1234.
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    2. Antonios Papadakis & Dimosthenis Chochlakis & Eleftherios Koufakis & Vilelmine Carayanni & Anna Psaroulaki, 2024. "Recreational Water Safety in Hotels: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Way Forward for a Safe Aquatic Environment," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-15, November.
    3. Iolanda-Veronica Ganea & Ramona Bălc & Robert-Csaba Begy & Ioan Tanțău & Delia Maria Gligor, 2023. "Combining Contamination Indices and Multivariate Statistical Analysis for Metal Pollution Evaluation during the Last Century in Lacustrine Sediments of Lacu Sărat Lake, Romania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-17, January.
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