title: Microbiological and hydrogeological assessment of groundwater in southern Italy.
abstract: This study represents the first investigation of microbiological groundwater pollution as a function of aquifer type and season for the Apulia region of southern Italy. Two hundred and seven wells were randomly selected from those monitored by the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection for emergency use. Both compulsory (Escherichia coli, Total Coliform, and Enterococci) and optional (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp., Heterotrophic Plate Count at 37 and 22 °C) microbiological parameters were assessed regularly at these wells. Groundwater from only 18 of the 207 (8.7 %) wells was potable; these all draw from karst-fissured aquifers. The remaining 189 wells draw from karst-fissured (66.1 %) or porous (33.9 %) aquifers. Of these, 82 (43.4 %) tested negative for Salmonella spp. and P. aeruginosa, while 107 (56.6 %) tested positive for P. aeruginosa (75.7 %), Salmonella spp. (10.3 %), or for both Salmonella spp. and P. aeruginosa (14 %). A logistic regression model shows that the probability of potable groundwater depends on both season and aquifer type. Typically, water samples were more likely to be potable in autumn-winter than in spring-summer periods (odds ratio, OR = 2.1; 95 % confidence interval, 95 % CI = 1.6-2.7) and from karst-fissured rather than porous aquifers (OR = 5.8; 95 % CI = 4.4-7.8). Optional parameters only showed a seasonal pattern (OR = 2.6; 95 % CI = 1.7-3.9). Clearly, further investigation of groundwater microbiological aspects should be carried out to identify the risks of fecal contamination and to establish appropriate protection methods, which take into account the hydrogeological and climatic characteristics of this region.
authors: Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology-Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11-Policlinico, Bari, Italy.
authors: Osvalda
authors: O
authors: De Giglio
authors: Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology-Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11-Policlinico, Bari, Italy.
authors: Giovanna
authors: G
authors: Barbuti
authors: Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology-Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11-Policlinico, Bari, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Trerotoli
authors: Water Research Institute, National Research Council, Bari, Italy.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Brigida
authors: Water Research Institute, National Research Council, Bari, Italy.
authors: Angelantonio
authors: A
authors: Calabrese
authors: Prevention Department, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Provincia di Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Di Vittorio
authors: Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology-Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11-Policlinico, Bari, Italy.
authors: Grazia
authors: G
authors: Lovero
authors: Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology-Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11-Policlinico, Bari, Italy.
authors: Giuseppina
authors: G
authors: Caggiano
authors: Water Research Institute, National Research Council, Bari, Italy.
authors: Vito Felice
authors: VF
authors: Uricchio
authors: Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology-Hygiene Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11-Policlinico, Bari, Italy. mariateresa.montagna@uniba.it.
authors: Maria Teresa
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2958-5458
authors: MT
authors: Montagna
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D060587:Groundwater / Q000382:microbiology*; D007558:Italy; D016062:Porosity; D012621:Seasons; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Apulia; Drinking water; Fecal contamination; Groundwater; Italy; Microbiological pollution