title: A recreational water quality index using chemical, physical and microbiological parameters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper was to develop a new recreational water quality index (RWQI) as a tool to ensure the health of swimmers and to take practical decisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  RWQI was elaborated with epidemiological data, and we carried out an exhaustive study of the different guidelines for recreational waters proposed by different organisations around the world. Different parameters were chosen, considering, as a priority, the swimmer's contact and the possibility of ingestion of water during the recreational activity. Furthermore, rating curves were established for pH, chemical oxygen demand, nitrate, phosphate, detergents, enterococci, total coliforms, faecal coliforms and Escherichia coli.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The index was applied to the data set on water quality of the Potrero de los Funes River (San Luis, Argentina), generated during 2 years (2009-2010). Following the RWQI values classification, most of the Potrero de los Funes water samples fell in the good quality range during the study period.
authors.affiliation: Área de Química Analítica, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Chacabuco y Pedernera, 5700 San Luis, Argentina. cesarbioq@gmail.com
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Soledad Oliva
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mallea
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: González
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis / Q000592:standards; D003902:Detergents / Q000592:standards; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009566:Nitrates / Q000592:standards; D010710:Phosphates / Q000592:standards; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D013550:Swimming; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000592:standards*; D014871:Water Microbiology / Q000592:standards*; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D003902:Detergents; D009566:Nitrates; D010710:Phosphates; D014867:Water