Estudio de la contaminación microbiológica y su relación con los parámetros físico-químicos, en la Bahía de Cartagena (Sector Laguito - Castillogrande)

Abstract

Due to the bacteriological, physical and chemical pollution problems commonly presented in the Cartagena bay, specially at the Laguito and Castillo grande sectors, the CIOH – Capitanía de Puerto of Cartagena has come to the need of monitoring the bay waters. To do so, were stablished several stations and gathered data at different time of year so it can be compare and be determined the most critical places an season.

Therefore the present study deal with the evolution of the bacteriological pollution level of the bay and its relationship with physical-chemical parameters. This evaluation is based on the monthly measurements which began on august 1994 (Wet season) and ended in January of 1995 (Dry season) over five stations located in the Laguito, Internal bay and Castillogrande Beaches.

For each data set was measured the total number of bacterias and the number of bacteria 100ml (MPN), faecal and total coliform (TC – FC), as well as physic-chemical analysis, such as pH, salinity, DBO5, nutrients, suspended solids, etc.

During the research was found the Laguito station, as the most critical due to its high level of coliforms and nutrients, always indicating domestics waters from residential districts, therefore can be considered as an area with severe restrictions for primary and secondary recreation, any how all stations in general try to depuring during January (dry season).