A simple bacterial index for relative water quality: Preliminary application in the Orbetello lagoon (Tuscany, Italy)

A simplified fingerprint, elaborated upon heterotrophic bacterial charge and conventional faecal coliforms (FCs) was used to measure the relative quality of the waters in the western basin of the Orbetello lagoon (Tuscany, Italy). Different bacteriological parameters were combined, after standardisation, obtaining “iso-quality” lines. The final image of the lagoon exhibits different pollution levels, with a relative minimum in the central area.