Coliform-Fecal Coliform Bacterial in Tidal Waters

The fecal coliform-coliform relationship has been examined for several estuaries on Long Island to evaluate proposed fecal coliform standards for shellfish growing waters. The level of fecal coliforms to coliforms was found to vary with source of pollution, level of treatment provided, characteristics of the receiving waters, and precipitation on the watershed. The data demonstrated that correlations for relating fecal coliform limits to present coliform standards must take into account the particular characteristics of each shellfish growing area. These correlations should be used until the level of public health hazard associated with the various standards is better determined and can be used to define new standards based on me public health significance associated with their use.