Bacteriological Assessment of Freshwater Ponds at Cape Cod National Seashore: Final Report
Ortiz JS, Levine WA, Ward NR. 1978. Bacteriological Assessment of Freshwater Ponds at Cape Cod National Seashore: Final Report. U.M.-N.P.S.C.R.U. Report Number 42. University of Massachusetts. Amherst, MA
This report includes results from studies done in the summers of 1975 and 1976 on the sanitary quality of the various freshwater ponds in Cape Cod National Seashore bordering the towns of Wellfleet and Truro, Massachusetts, and on the epidemiology of relating swimming in the ponds to upper respiratory infections (URI) in the community. High incidence of URI in the community in the summer of 1974 had led the local physicians to suspect that these infections were related to swimming in the ponds. General overview of results: Because of the low number of patients presenting clinical symptoms, the authors concluded that the ponds are not the source of infections but may be a precipitating factor to URI. In 1975, the sanitary quality of these ponds, with a few excepted days, complied well within national set standards; still, several pathogens were isolated. More intensive and systematic studies in 1976 showed these pathogens to be in very low numbers and probably not hazardous at these levels. The number of indicator organisms isolated was so low that a direct relationship between pollution level and bather load could not be established.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Ortiz, Jesse; Levine, William; Ward, N
- Date of Issue
- 1978-06
- Publisher
- University of Massachusetts
- Units
- CACO
- Keywords
- Bacteria, Coliforms, Human Impacts, Management Legislation, Ponds, Recreation, Water Quality