The Fecal Coliform/Fecal Streptococcus Ratio as a Measure of Bacterial Contamination and Indicator of Its Source in the Des Moines River

Authors

Karen E. Messley
Phyllis J. Kingsbury, Drake UniversityFollow

Document Type

Research

Keywords

FC/FS Ratio, Total Coliforms, Fecal Coliforms, Fecal Streptococcus, Des Moines River

Abstract

The fecal coliform/fecal streptococcus (FC/FS) ratio and total coliform test were used in attempts to determine the degree and source of bacterial contamination present in the Des Moines River between April 18 and November 14, 1970. There were no predictable changes in the FC/FS ratio as the river passed from a rural area, through a metropolitan district, and on to another rural area; however, the total coliform counts did show variation with distance. The failure of the FC/FS ratio to indicate source of contamination was probably due to the highly varying external conditions acting upon the river.

Publication Date

June 1973

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

80

Issue

2

First Page

74

Last Page

77

Copyright

©1973 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Messley, Karen E. and Kingsbury, Phyllis J. (1973) "The Fecal Coliform/Fecal Streptococcus Ratio as a Measure of Bacterial Contamination and Indicator of Its Source in the Des Moines River," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 80(2), 74-77.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol80/iss2/12