Abstract
Beach water quality is an important factor concerning public health and tourism linked to the “Sun, Sea and Sand” market and is usually assessed in international regulations by the quantification of Escherichia coli and enterococci counts. Despite Salmonella spp. detection not being included in international normative, the presence/absence of this bacteria is also an indicator of seawater quality. The objective of this study was to determine microbiological quality of beach water at 14 beaches along the Department of Atlántico (Colombia) and its relationship with beach characteristics as beach typology (i.e., urban, village, rural and remote areas), presence of beach facilities (e.g., bars, restaurants, etc.) and streams outflowing into the coastline. Sampling program aimed to analyse E. coli and Salmonella spp., by culture-based and real time PCR methods, respectively. Microbiological outcomes were compared with beach characteristics, and a cluster analysis was performed. E. coli and Salmonella spp. were detected in 70% and 20% of samples, respectively. Highest E. coli counts were observed at beaches classified as urban and at Sabanilla, a rural beach with presence of numerous beach restaurants/bars. Salmonella spp. presence was associated with streams that lack wastewater treatment systems. Cluster analysis clearly evidenced the relationship between E. coli and Salmonella spp. and beach characteristics, allowing to obtain indications to implement management programs. According to data obtained, monitoring programs have to be especially carried out in urban areas and at places with beach facilities. This could enhance microbiological water quality and consequently, beachgoers safety and touristic beach attractiveness to international visitors.
Highlights
According to the World Tourism Organization, “travels and tourism” was one of the fastest growing and most dynamic economic sector in the world in 2019 [1]
The lack of correlation between E. coli and Salmonella spp. recorded in this paper demonstrates that the absence of E. coli detected by culture-based methods does not indicate the absence of Salmonella spp. measured by real time PCR, as it was observed at Santa Verónica beach, where E. coli was not detected but Salmonella spp. was; these inconsistencies may be due to the differences in the sensitivity of such analytical methodologies, being the PCR much more sensitive than the culture methods
The microbial contamination was evaluated, by counting E. coli and detecting Salmonella spp., of almost all coastal length of the department of Atlántico (Caribbean Sea of Colombia), and it was related to beach characteristics, based on anthropogenic and natural dimensions, as presence of streams, beach facilities and beach typology
Summary
According to the World Tourism Organization, “travels and tourism” was one of the fastest growing and most dynamic economic sector in the world in 2019 [1]. International tourist arrivals have increased from 25 million in 1950 to 1.5 billion in 2019 and are estimated to reach 1.8 billion by 2030 [1]. 4.5 million travellers in 2019, which represented an increase of 2.7% with respect to 2018 [2]. Leisure tourism represented the most common sector (56%) among the travel purposes [1] and, within this, the “Sun, Sea and Sand (3S)” is the most attractive market [3]. Concerning the preferences of beachgoers, thousands of questionnaires have been carried out in different countries to find out that, despite travelling distance being a relevant selection condition, five aspects (the “Big Five”), i.e., safety, facilities, water quality, absence of litter, and scenery, are of the greatest importance to coastal visitors [3,4]. According to the desires of beachgoers, tourism planners must be conscious of the 3S potentialities in their countries and have to enhance the attractiveness of their beaches in different ways if present natural conditions show low attractiveness or environmental characteristics [7,8]
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