A simple bacterial index for relative water quality: Preliminary application in the Orbetello lagoon (Tuscany, Italy)

A simplified fingerprint, elaborated upon heterotrophic bacterial charge an d conventional faecal coliforms (FCs) was used to measure the relative qual ity of the waters in the western basin of the Orbetello lagoon (Tuscany, It aly). Different bacteriological parameters were combined, after standardisa tion, obtaining "iso-quality" lines. The final image of the lagoon exhibits different pollution levels, with a relative minimum in the central area. ( C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.