Fecal coliform-related bacterial and coliphage populations in five lakes of southeastern Spain

Aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, fecal and total coliforms, fecal streptococci and coliphages were isolated from five protected lakes in the Antequera area of Spain over the time from January to March (1994–96). The water samples contained large number of heterotrophic bacteria (mean counts 0.2 to 5.0 × 10 7 cfu per 100 ml). Most of the lakes contained fecal streptococci and a relationship between streptococci and salinity of the water samples was stablished. Coliphages were isolated from lakes containing fecal coliform and these bacteria were taxonomically identified as E. coli. Coliform bacilli do not seem to be an adequate indicator of fecal pollution for these ephemeral small lakes.