Received 30 September 2014; revised 10 November 2014; accepted 24 November 2014

ABSTRACT

Water bacteriological qualities of 22 recreational beaches in Ensenada Bay, Baja California, Mexico were analyzed during the summer and winter of 2008. Total and fecal coliforms as well as enterococci bacteria were used as pollution indicators. Results showed that bacteria concentrations were higher in winter than summer, associated with Southern California rainy season. Bacteria loads in winter exceeded both the daily and monthly standards showing a clear effect of storm water runoff in the quality of Todos Santos Bay recreational beaches. Statistical analysis showed significant differences between bacteria concentration during summer and winter. The general behavior of the indicators based on daily and monthly standards from high to low was enterococci > FC > TC> total/fecal ratio. Water discharged from 3 sewage treatment plants were responsible for the pollution observed at stations, when the uptake capacity of plants exceeded the storage. During summer pollution was due to non-programmed discharges from sewage treat- ment plants.

Keywords:

Water Quality, Enterococci, Todos Santos Bay

1. Introduction

Recreational beaches are considered an important economic resource worldwide. They must, however, comply with microbiological standards established for recreational waters in order to protect the health of beach users. Some of the most common illnesses associated with swimming in contaminated waters are typhoid, gastroenteritis, hepatitis, dermatitis, otitis, and conjunctivitis [1] - [3] .

The city of Ensenada, located in Baja California (Mexico), has a population of 450,000 and lies along Todos Santos Bay, whose beaches are frequented by locals and visitors for recreational purposes (e.g., swimming, surfing, and diving). To protect bathers from illnesses, researchers at the University of Baja California have undertaken continuous water quality studies following microbiological guidelines and standards to provide reliable and opportune information for public health authorities and beach users. Such studies are based on water quality criteria. According to [4] , “A water quality criterion is defined as a quantifiable exposure-effect relationship based on scientific evidence between the level of some indicator of the quality of the water concerned and the potential human health risks associated with the recreational use of that water”. The most common microbiological indicators are total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and enterococci.

The microbiological studies of Todos Santos Bay have shown that some of the beaches regularly used by the population, including the main municipal beach, are being influenced by wastewater discharges. Concentrations of coliform bacteria and enterococci exceeding the limits established for primary contact recreation waters have been detected at these beaches [5] [6] . Simental-Oceguera and Martínez-Hurtaza [7] found bacterial indicators of pollution and identified 20 Salmonella serotypes in residual waters (16.2%) and seawater (2.3%). The evidence clearly suggests that extensive long-term monitoring of the bay is necessary. This study thus aimed to determine the bacteriological quality of the seawater in Todos Santos Bay, considering the main recreational beaches from the northernmost to the southernmost part of the bay.

2. Materials and Methods

Seawater samples were collected from 22 stations at beaches located between El Sauzal and Punta Banda in Todos Santos Bay, Baja California, Mexico (Figure 1). Samples were obtained weekly during five consecutive weeks in summer and winter 2008 using stratified random sampling, and their location was determined by GPS. Samples were collected in sterile bottles, placed in an ice chest and transported to the laboratory for immediate

analysis in duplicate. Total coliforms (TC) and fecal coliforms (FC) were analyzed by the five-tube most probable number method [8] . Analysis consisted of presumptive and confirmed tests; lactose broth was used as presumptive medium at 35˚C for 24 - 48 hours. For confirmed test, 2% brilliant green bile medium was used for TC at 35˚C for 48 hours, and EC medium for FC at 44.5˚C in water bath for 24 hours. Enterococci were enumerated by membrane filtration on mE1 agar according to method 1600 [9] , before being incubated at 41˚C for 24 hours. The Total/fecal ratio was the fourth bacterial indicator [6] . Data were compared (Table 1) to the Single Sample Standard (SSS) and the 30-Day Sample Standard (30-DSS) established in the California Ocean Plan [10] . Salinity was determined with a Beckman Inductive Salinometer, RS10 model, temperature (˚C) was obtained with a Fisher Scientific digital calibrated thermometer, and pH was measured with a Fisher Scientific Potentiometer, Accumet model.

3. Results

The percentage of samples that exceeded the Single Sample Standard (SSS) is shown in Table 2. The levels of enterococci in the samples (21.81% in winter and 10% in summer) were higher than those of TC and FC, though the latter two were also higher in winter than in summer. The Mann-Whitney statistical analysis (p < 0.05) of indicator bacteria in both seasons showed significant differences between the summer and winter concentrations. The general behavior was enterococci > FC > total/fecal ratio > TC. In summer, 8.18% of the samples exceeded at least one SSS and 84.54% did not exceed any, whereas in winter, 7.27% of the samples exceeded at least one SSS and 76.36% did not exceed any (Table 3).

The percentage of samples that exceeded the established 30-DSS is given in Table 4. Similarly to SSS, enterococci exceeded the 30-DSS in a higher percentage, 50% in winter and 13.64% in summer (Table 4). Also during winter, 59.80% of the samples exceeded at least one 30-DSS, compared with 18.20% in summer (Table 5).

Figure 2 shows the mean concentrations of TC, FC, and enterococci. In winter, the highest mean concentrations occurred at station 2 (Arroyo Ensenada): 55,966 TC 100 mL⁻¹, 19,008 FC 100 mL⁻¹, and 2863 enterococci CFU 100 mL⁻¹. All three indicators exceeded the 30-DSS because TC exceeded 1000 MPN in 100 mL⁻¹ by 80%. The geometric mean for FC was 1324, much higher than the threshold value of 200 FC 100 mL⁻¹, and the geometric mean for enterococci was 1842, much higher than the 30-DSS value of 35 enterococci 100 mL⁻¹. In summer, the highest mean concentrations of TC (1252 TC 100 mL⁻¹) and enterococci (389 CFU 100 mL⁻¹) occurred at station 3 (Playa Municipal), the TC exceeded their established 30-DSS by 60% and enterococci geometric mean was higher than 35. The maximum FC value (676 FC 100 mL⁻¹) was recorded at station 1 (Playa California), and the geometric mean was 395, much higher than the limit of 200 FC 100 mL⁻¹. In general, the stations located in the southern part of Todos Santos Bay (stations 10 to 22) had the lowest concentrations of indicator bacteria in both seasons even though there are bivalve cultivation sites in this area.

There was a strong correlation between TC and FC in winter (r = 0.976, p < 0.05) and summer (r = 0.823 p < 0.05). Enterococci showed a strong correlation with TC (r = 0.898 p < 0.05) and FC (r = 0.886, p < 0.05) in winter, however enterococci shown a very low correlation between TC and FC during summer (r = 0.491 and r = 0.447, p < 0.05) respectively.

Salinity values of approximately 33 were recorded at most stations during both sampling periods (Figure 3(a)). Stations 3 (Playa Municipal), 6 (Ciprés), 2 (Arroyo Ensenada), and 1 (Playa California) had the lowest salinity values (22.59, 26.91, 30.27, and 31.77, respectively).

Seawater temperature ranged from 13.50˚C to 15.86˚C in winter and from 16.2 to 26.3˚C in summer (Figure 3(b)). In winter, the highest temperatures were recorded at stations 3 (Playa Municipal) and 6 (Ciprés), and in summer, at stations 13 (inner part of Punta Banda Estuary, 26.3˚C) and 14 (off Punta Banda Estuary, 25.7˚C). In general, the summer values for stations 12, 13, and 14 were 10˚C higher than the winter values, but at the other stations the difference was not as marked.

In summer, pH ranged from 7.75 to 8.37 and in winter, from 7.99 to 8.17 (Figure 3(c)). The lowest pH values in summer were recorded at station 2 (Arroyo Ensenada) and in winter at station 6 (Ciprés).

4. Discussion

The higher bacterial concentrations detected in winter in Todos Santos Bay can be attributed to rainfall, which fluctuated between 4.9 and 22.9 mm. The effect of runoff on beach quality was evident since the percentage of samples that exceeded at least one of the three 30-DSS. Winter was three times higher than summer, similar to that reported for the Southern California Bight [11] . The city of Ensenada generates a wide variety of pollutants, (e.g., heavy metals, microorganisms, animal waste, organic matter) that are transported to the coastal zone in winter by runoff [12] . Moreover, during storms, the treatment plants are unable to process all the sewage, then water is discharged untreated at stations 1 (Hotel California) and 3 (Arroyo El Gallo) (Figure 1).

Studies conducted in the Southern California Bight [11] [13] - [16] and in northwestern Baja California [17] [18] have found that runoff can influence the microbiological quality of seawater. In our study, the highest concentrations of indicator bacteria were found at Stations 1 (Playa California), 2 (Arroyo Ensenada), and 3 (Playa Municipal), clearly influenced by stormwater runoff; however, note that stations 1 and 3 are located, close to the discharges from the El Sauzal and Naranjo-El Gallo treatment plants (inland, Figure 1) in which other studies did not find differences between winter and summer conditions due to scant rainfall [6] . The winter salinity measurements indicate freshwater input at Stations 3 (22.59), 6 (26.91), 2 (30.27), and 1 (31.77) (Figure 3(a)), and there were high negative correlation coefficients (0.924, 0.932 and 0.897) between CT, CF and Enterococci respectively and salinity, except at Station 3, which showed a negative correlation only with FC. The same behavior was found in pH values, showing high and negative correlations with CT and CF (0.919 and 0.942) respectively. None significantly correlation was found with enterococci.

Stations 1, 2, and 3 had the highest concentrations of indicator bacteria in winter because they are located

closer to stormwater discharges. Station 1 (Playa California) receives the discharge from Arroyo El Sauzal (stream) with an approximately basin of 73.13 km² and a mean annual runoff volume of 1.076 million m³ [12] .

Station 2 (Arroyo Ensenada) receives the waters from two tributaries, Doña Petra and Aguajito stream, that are part of Ensenada Basin. This covers an approximately area of 265.69 km², with a mean annual runoff volume of 5.195 million m³ [12] . Station 3 (Playa Municipal) is located close to Arroyo El Gallo and receives stormwater from El Gallo Basin, which has an area of 153.07 km² and a mean annual runoff volume of 2.867 million m³ [12] , as well as wastewater discharges from the El Gallo and Naranjo treatment plants.

The pollution detected in winter at station 6 (Ciprés) can be attributed to the effluent discharged from the El Naranjo sewage treatment plant. Under normal conditions, wastewater that has undergone secondary treatment and has a biochemical oxygen demand of 92% is sent to the El Gallo treatment plant to be discharged through Arroyo El Gallo. During the rainy season, however, stormwater is captured in the city’s drainage system and arrives at the treatment plant together with the residual domestic waters. When the plant’s capacity is exceeded, untreated water could be bypass to the coastal zone (station 6) via an emergency connection. From time to time untreated water has been diverted to the coastal zone due to improper maintenance or operating problems at the treatment plant, causing beach closures due to high levels of enterococci [19] [20] .

In winter, at Stations 12 (Estero Beach) and 13, levels of enterococci exceeded the limits established for recreational waters, probably due to pollutants transported by Arroyo San Carlos, although a decrease in salinity was not detected. Arroyo San Carlos is a single channel stream that crosses the San Carlos Valley and discharges a non-significant volume in Punta Banda Estuary [12] . The levels of enterococci also exceeded the established limits at Stations 19 and 20 (La Joya) due to runoff. Simental-Oceguera and Martínez-Urtaza [7] isolated and identified Salmonella in 3.6% of the samples taken at Station 20 during the rainy season.

In summer, the bacterial contamination found at Station 1 (Playa California) is due to nonpoint source pollution from the fishing industry and from houses not connected to the sewerage system, as well as the sewage from El Sauzal treatment plant. The contamination at Station 2 is due to the Arroyo Ensenada discharges, and at Station 3 it is due to the joint discharge of residual waters from the El Gallo and Naranjo treatment plants. All the other stations presented good bacteriological quality.

In both summer and winter, enterococci exceeded the SSS and 30-DSS in a higher percentage of stations than coliform bacteria. This is consistent with what has been found inside Ensenada Bay [6] and the California coastal zone [11] [21] . Since enterococci can survive longer in marine environments than coliform bacteria, they are more resistant in seawater [22] ; hence, enterococci are better indicators of shoreline water quality, as has been demonstrated [21] . Another reason to use enterococci is that the limits established to determine the seawater bacteriological quality for recreational uses are based on narrower values.

Fecal coliform bacteria are a subgroup of the total coliform group, and this explains the high correlations found between them in summer and winter. Enterococci showed high positive correlations with coliform bacteria in winter because freshwater input due to rainfall decreased salinity at the stations closest to the streams and the survival of coliform bacteria increased. In contrast, in summer, streams did not discharge freshwater and mean salinity was 33, reducing the survival of coliform bacteria.

In this work winter and summer temperature showed significant differences. Although sea water temperature increases during summer are expected to have a positive influence on survival and amount of indicator bacteria, our data shown that bacteria concentration in the area were fewer than winter values. Higher concentration during winter may indicate that concentration of bacteria is regulated by the raining season discharged in the Bay.

5. Conclusion

The levels of indicator bacteria were on average higher in winter (rainy season) than in summer, indicating a clear effect of stormwater runoff on the water quality of recreational beaches at Todos Santos Bay. The treatment plant effluents discharged at Stations 1 and 3 were also responsible for the contamination observed in winter when the treatment and storage capacity of the plants was exceeded. The bacterial contamination found in summer was due to nonpoint source pollution and discharges from the Ensenada treatment plants.

References