Hygienic risk factors in an urbanized wetland (Rauccio park, Lecce, Italy).

The assessment of phreatic groundwater quality and surface water quality was carried out within Rauccio Park area in order to identify the possible risk factors for human health related to the use of waters for domestic, irrigation and recreational purpose. The samples were collected during the period March-November 2002. Phreatic layer was seasonally monitored through eighteen wells while surface waters was monthly examined through nine sampling points. Each sample was submitted, according to the standard methodologies, to the search of total and faecal coliform, streptococci and Salmonella spp. The results obtained during this work highlight a situation of degradation of the environment, and also for the hygienic point of view, so to considerably reduce the potential use of the basin waters. The space and the time trend of the microbiological variables have highlighted a diffuse faecal origin contamination whose dynamic is bound to the antrophic load and to the atmospheric rainfall. Therefore, it is hoped for the prompt accomplishment of a series of interventions aimed to limit the release of pollutants