The detection of enteric viruses accompanied by a characterization of the viruses found in a given environmental matrix may inform about the sources of fecal contamination. In the present work, 55 water samples and 20 sediment samples were collected from 21 small farms in southern Brazil. Coliform counting was done as well as molecular detection of human enterovirus (EV), and human and animal adenoviruses. Viral detection was performed using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Furthermore, the viral viability of human AdV (HAdV) by ICC-RT-qPCR in sediment and water samples was analyzed. Regarding to the coliforms, only 72.7% of the samples showed fecal contamination. HAdV was detected in 87.3% of water samples, followed by AvAdV (27.3%), CAV (20%), BAV (7.3%) and PoAdV or EV (1.8%). From the sediment samples, HAdV (80%) followed by CAV (20%), BAV (5%) and no positive results for PoAdV or EV. The viral loads ranged from 1.57×102gc/L up to 6.68×109gc/L (water), and from 1.97×103gc/g to 2.18×108gc/g (sediment). Most of these viral particles in water should be non-infectious, since after the ICC-PCR, HAdV was detected in only 4 samples (8.8%). On the other hand, it is noticeable that 5 sediment samples (25%) gave positive results for the presence of infectious viral particles.