A preliminary survey of the level of microbiological pollution of major rivers in northern Greece

The objective of the present survey was to assess the microbiological quality of river waters used mainly to irrigate the large plains of Macedonia and Thessaly in Northern Greece. Five rivers (Aliakmonas, Axios, Loudias, Mavroneri and Pineios) were sampled during a 10-month period (June 2002 - March 2003) for Total Microbial Flora (TMF) at 22°C and 37°C, Total Coliforms (TC), Fecal Coliforms (FC), enterococci, staphylococci, Pseudomonas, fungi, Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. The results indicate moderate to high microbiological pollution, with the highest levels of microbial pollution found in Mavroneri and Pineios Rivers, and moderate pollution levels in Aliakmonas, Axios and Loudias Rivers. The extent of microbiological pollution is accentuated by the fact that Giardia- and /or Cryptosporidium cysts were detected in nine out of eleven samples collected in June 2002 with excessive Giardia counts demonstrated for Pineios River. The microbiological pollution of the surveyed rivers is attributed to various degrees of human interference and to lack of ample pollution monitoring systems, which emphasize the need for implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive.