[Persistence of Escherichia coli in estuarine sediments]

In order to establish the extension of fecal pollution, as well as the persistence of the indicator bacterium Escherichia coli, a bacteriological survey of the Bahía Blanca estuary sediments was done during the period August 1987-October 1988. Thirty two sampling stations were established in which sediment columns of 70 cm in length were extracted. The microbiological analysis revealed the amplitude of the area affected by industrial and sewer effluents and the viability of fecal coliforms up to 70 cm levels.