Pathogen impact on bathing waters
This page is no longer updated. The information presented here formed part of our previous areas of research. This has included research carried out on behalf of our research partners, commerical contracts and also the Scottish Goverment's Strategic research programme during the period 2011 - 2016.
We have left these pages here to provide background information on our previous areas of research. Further details on the RESAS strategic programme of research (2016-21) will be made available.
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Pathogens from agricultural run-off and sewage effluent are transported to beaches where they can cause non-compliance with bathing water standards. Intensification of livestock-based agriculture and climate change may exacerbate this; with increased storm events resulting in heightened run off and further use of storm overflows.
Turbulence and changes in water chemistry during high flow events affect the pathogens ability to bind to sediments and determine whether those in the bed sediment become re-suspended. From here pathogens may be transported to bathing waters, where they can pose health risks to bathers.
Who is working in this area?
This research was funded by the Scottish Government RESAS Strategic Research 2011-2016.
