North and south american studies on the potential of coliphage as a water quality indicator

Studies were undertaken to assess the potential of coliphages to be used universally as water quality indicators and more specifically as health hazard indicators. Data were obtained from three water bodies, a northern Canadian River, inshore water samples from Lake Ontario and from marine beaches in Brazil. Data from this two continent, three water body study indicated (a) that within location fecal coliform and coliphages are positively correlated, (b) coliphage values can be predicted by using fecal coliform MPN, fecal streptococci MF and E. coli MF data and (c) a water quality guideline of 20 coliphage/100 ml for recreational fresh waters is proposed.