The Water quality of the Danube River and gravel pits in the Bratislava area (Slovakia)

Abstract

The gravel pits are typical features of Bratislava. By their origin they are related to the river Danube. The water quality is determinated by various indicators, especially hydrochemical and microbiological ones. In the gravel pits water was determined for increase of chloride concentration and drop of sulphate concentration. Significant indicator of faecal contamination is the presence of enterococci. Faecal enterococci (<em>E.</em><em>faecalis</em>, <em>E.</em><em>faecium, E.</em><em>durans, E.</em><em>hirae</em>) dominates in the river Danube, and only two non-faecal enterococcal species, <em>E.</em><em>casseliflavus</em> and <em>E. seriolicida</em> were found in the water of gravel pits with other enterococcal very related taxa: <em>Lactococcus lactis</em> and <em>Aeromonas</em> spp.