Bacteriological quality of creeks and marine water bodies in North Goa: Ecosystem upkeep perspectives for tourism-related activities

Abstract

Keeping tourism-related activities in the fore, several relevant bacteriological parameters were studied in depth in North Goa's aquatic ecosystems. Total bacterial abundance and activity for sewage-indicator bacteria and a select set of human pathogenic bacteria were quantified during three different seasons. It is evident that coastal and freshwater ecosystems in North Goa have not been unduly contaminated. Except in the monsoon, the quantum of coliform bacteria - Eschericha coli and Vibrio cholerae - and many other human pathogenic bacteria was well within the limits acceptable for tourist recreational activities such as bathing, fishing, surfing, and the like. It is postulated that under the BAU (business-as-usual) scenario, there will be increased sewage contamination and thus imminent threats to aquatic ecosystems, thus rendering them unsafe and unusable for recreational activities, which are popular among tourists