Microorganisms as water quality indicators for the Lim river

Abstract

Microbial indicators of the water quality of the Lim River were analysed to assess its potential use for sports, recreational and agricultural activities. Testing was conducted at six locations (Plav, Andrijevica, Skakavac, Zaton, Bijelo Polje, Dobrakovo), four times (June, July, August, October) in 2005. Total counts of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, coliforms and faecal coliforms were determined. Aerobic mesophilic counts were highest in the water samples taken from the Bijelo Polje location in July, and lowest in the samples collected from the Plav location in August. The same tendency was observed for coliforms, whose total count, however, was lower in June. Faecal coliform counts were highest in the water samples collected from the Skakakav site in August and lowest in those taken from the Plav location in the same month.