Survey of faecal contamination in the Lower Austrian Danube using E. coli
In recent years, various media outlets and members of the public have repeatedly speculated that shipping on the Danube is causing significant faecal contamination of the river. However, there are currently no up-to-date and reliable data series on faecal contamination covering a representative period of time.
The investigation concept is based on a high-resolution spatial and temporal analysis of faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) for the Lower Austrian section of the Danube, as well as an initial assessment of the FIB emission potential for Danube shipping with a comparison to municipal sources of pollution. In addition, a basic chemo-physical characterisation of water quality and a genetic analysis to determine the origin of faecal inputs at selected points will be carried out.
Along the Lower Austrian Danube, 11 selected transects (cross-sections) will be characterised over the course of the year, and closely spaced time series will be investigated at critical points along the Danube using automated sampling. In order to support an assessment of the pollution potential of Danube ships, ship wastewater will also be examined in more detail microbiologically and chemically. All common types of ships and wastewater are taken into account. The study is being conducted in close cooperation between the Province of Lower Austria, the Water Group and the Karl Landsteiner Private University for Health Sciences, Department of Water Quality and Health, with the support of ICC Water & Health as a partner.