Evaluation of adverse biological effects induced by pollution in the Bilbao Estuary (Spain)

The physical nature of the Bilbao Estuary (Spain) has been highly modified since the end of the last century, mainly by means of dyking, canalization, and dredging to meet the needs of navigation. Together with its industrial use, the estuary is also used for the disposal of domestic sewage. Until the completion of a sewerage plan in the year 2002, the sewage of about 1 million people and the wastes from industries will continue to be discharged into this 15-km-long estuary with a limited freshwater flow of 25 m(3) s(-1). An abrupt decrease in faunal abundance followed by defaunation characterized the biotic response to the disturbance in almost three-quarters of its tideway. Relationships between biotic and environmental variables were investigated using the BIO-ENV procedure of the PRIMER computer package. Gross organic enrichment, water oxygen depletion and anaerobic sediment conditions appear to be the dominant anthropogenic influences on the Bilbao Estuary. It is concluded that the level of wastewater discharges into the estuary may substantially drop below that concentration which assures the protection and propagation of native heterotrophic resources within sediments. Biological monitoring is thus essential to assess the efficacy of the sewerage plan promoted by the local Water Authority.