Their validity seems to be restricted to endemic and point source contamination. Their utility in the evaluation of the microbiological quality of molluscs and shellfish growing waters is discussed. Comparison of detection frequencies in water and clams suggests a rapid disappearance of E coli and fecal coliforms in the environment. PCA results highlight the role of salinity in this disappearance. They also show that precipitations and turbidity favour the presence of these bacteria.
Somatic coliphages emerge as the best indicators of pathogenic contamination.
They are also shown to be less vulnerable to environmental conditions than E coli and fecal coliforms. The use of somatic coliphages, turbidity, precipitations and salinity as indicators of the microbiological quality of molluscs and shellfish growing waters is discussed. St Lawrence Vision 2000.