Housing Density and Bacterial Loading in Urban Streams

Abstract

Data collected in this study demonstrate that fecal bacteria counts in urban tributaries were much higher in sewered basins than in nonsewered basins; fecal bacteria densities were related to the density of housing, population, development, percent impervious area, and apparent domestic animal density. Preliminary fecal bacteria data collected for surface runoff samples in these urban neighborhoods indicate that a relationship may exist between various urban land uses and potential bacterial loading.