Abstract
Fecal coliform (FC)and enterococci(ENT), frequently used as fecal indicators were monitored in the coastal recreation area of Miyazaki, Japan, from June to September 2009. The FC and ENT counts in coastal water were found to range from Below detection limits(BDL)to 6.3× 103CFU/100 mL and from BDL to 5.2× 102CFU/100 mL, respectively. These counts varied depending on the numbers of sampling days and stations, and exceeded the criteria for marine recreation water recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency during sampling events. Both bacteria showed a significant positive correlation with rainfall (FC:r=0.83, ENT:r=0.99), and a negative correlation with salinity (FC:r=-0.60, ENT :r=-0.75). In the identification test of enterococcal strains using PCR, Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis were detected at high frequencies in some stations. Our findings demonstrate that during heavy rains, some stations in the coastal recreation area could be affected by fecal pollution from human and livestock feces with the inflow of inland water.
