Sanitary and bacteriological evaluation of water quality during cage culture of wels (Silurus glanis L.) in cooling water

Abstract

The organic pollution and the sanitary state of cooling water used in intensive fish rearing were evaluated. The study was carried out at the cage station of the Olsztyn Fish Farm located in the northeastern Mazurian Lake District of Poland. The water was sampled monthly from April 1 to September 30, 1999. Quantitative analyses included a total count of the bacteria cultured on a common agar medium at 20 and 37°C (TVC 20°C and TVC 37°C), the total count of coliforms (TC) and fecal coliforms (FC), a count of fecal streptococci (FC) and spore-forming anaerobes (Clostridium perfringens). The results obtained indicate that cage fish culture did not considerably affect the bacteriological properties of the water.