Categories
vol-32SANITARY AND AESTHETIC QUALITY OF EGYPTIAN
COASTAL WATERS OF AQABA GULF,
SUEZ GULF AND RED SEA
MOHAMED EL-SHENAWY*, AIDA FARAG , MOHAMED ZAKY
National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, El-Anfoushy, Alexandria, Egypt.
*E.mail: [email protected]
Keywords: water quality, recreational waters, bacterial indicators, Aqaba Gulf, Suez Gulf,
Red Sea.
ABSTRACT
During the course of 7 years (1998-2004), five field trips were performed annually in
January, march, May, July and September. 1400 water samples (200 samples/year) were
collected from 40 coastal sites covering the recreational areas as well as different hot spots
and some protectorate areas. Hydrochemical parameters including temperature, salinity, pH
and dissolved oxygen as well as bacteriological parameters including total coliforms, E.
coli and fecal streptococci were investigated. Inverse relationships were observed between
salinity and each of total coliforms (TC) (r = -0.149, P ≤ 0.05) and E. coli (EC) (r = -0.147,
P ≤ 0.05) in the Suez Gulf, whereas in Red Sea there was an inverse relationship between
temperature and fecal streptococci (FS) (r = -0.17, P ≤ 0.05). The present study suggested
that E. coli was the most appropriate indicator during the course of study concerning
variation in time and locations. Equivalent to 80% of analyzed samples compliance with the
current standard, 30 sites (75%) of 40 studied sites were unpolluted whereas 25 sites (91%)
of 28 recreational areas was recommended as unpolluted and approved for safe recreational
activities.
