Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in Gruža reservoir Lake (Serbia) pretection zone: A danger for drinking water safety

Abstract

For all living organisms, water is the most vital and important matter for survival. Today, in many under-developed and developing countries, waterborne diseases still pose a major risk in drinking water. Agricultural practices have often proved to be the main source of faecal pollution, with septic systems also identified as sources of serious epidemics of E. coli. Understanding the effects of intensive land use on water resources is essential for the preservation of natural resources and improving environmental quality. In order to determine the presence of certain types of microorganisms in the soil of Gruža Lake protection zone the number E. coli and Salmonella were analysed. Analysing the presence of E. coli and Salmonella in the investigated groups of farmland soils, it has been noted that E.coli is present in 80% of the total plantation area under investigated vegetable gardens, while Salmonella at the same percentage of the area under stubbles. E. coli is present in a significant percentage of land under stubble-fields, meadows and plough fields, in 40 to 58.3% of the samples in the order. Salmonella is present in the soils under arable land and vegetables with 41.7 to 60.0% of the sampled land. The lowest number of both pathogens relates to the land under cereal crops. Management of aquatic ecosystems in the agricultural regions must take into account potential sources of faecal contamination.