[Compulsory and additional parameters in water control]

The authors have analyzed 22 water samples from the Arno River (both river and drinking samples), as well as 11 effluent samples from an urban plant. Chemical and microbiological features of river samples were in line with the A3 class, needing treatment for drinking use (Executive Order n. 152/99); drinkable water met requirements (Presidents Decree n degrees 236/1988 and Executive Order n degrees 31/2001). As regards chemical parameters, effluents complied with the law (Executive Order n. 152/1999) but their bacteriological figures exceeded the standards set by the Authorities due to a lack in chlorination. Enteric viruses reacted to the RT-PCR test in 5 of the samples, including a Coxsackievirus Type B2 and a Poliovirus. No association was shown between bacteriophage parameters and virus.