Reduction of coliform bacteria in two upland reservoirs: The significance of distance decay relationships

This paper reports on the coliform bacterial densities observed between September 1976 and September 1977 in two British upland reservoirs having multiple-use catchment areas. The level of catchment use is defined in terms of agricultural and recreational activity and the rate of bacterial reduction in the reservoir impoundments is investigated. The applicability of previous studies (which examined rates of coliform reduction in different situations) to the British upland reservoir is discussed and a set of calculated purification rates, observed during different limnological conditions, are presented.