MICROBIOLOGICAL AND PHYSIC-CHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE SEA WATER IN ZVËRNECI COAST, VLORË, ALBANIA
Hajdar KIÇAJ, Aurora BAKAJ, Mariola ISMAILAJ, Xhuljana ARAPAJ, Megi MALAJ, Juna TAFILI
Abstract
The development of coastal truism in Albania during the last decade has had a huge impact on the seawater quality. As a result, it is shown that the recreative water quality is affected sometimes by the presence of different types of microorganisms, some of them potential pathogens for humans. This study has the main focus on the assessment of the seawater in the bathing site of Zvërnec Beach in Vlore Albania. The examination of the seawater is based on the evaluation of the microbiological indicators such as total coliforms and E coli and also the physical-chemical parameters like pH, temperature, conductivity, DO, and salinity. The study was conducted over eight months from June 2022 to January 2023. The samples were collected in six different sites and have been analyzed for both microbial and physic-chemical parameters. The method for the fecal bacteria assessment is the standard technique of MPN. The results show that one station has large values of bacterial pollution, and there is a correlation between fecal contamination and temperature. Every station displays seasonal differences, during summer there is a higher contamination, compared with winter. Therefore, seawater monitoring of microbiological elements must be performed continuously in all the coastal areas of Vlora City.
Pages:
132 - 138