Tidal Stage Variability of Fecal Coliform and Chlorophyll a Concentrations in Coastal Creeks

Tidal creeks are shallow estuaries found in any coastal environment, but are particularly common to low-energy coastal regions. This research aims to determine the influence of tidal variations on the concentrations of water quality parameters (with particular emphasis on faecal coliforms) by sampling in 3 creeks and 14 tidal cycles. Samples at high tides tended to provide conservative results, whilst those taken at low tide provided the 'worst-case-scenario'. Consequently, this natural variability should be considered when adopting water quality standards. There are 31 references.