Faecal Indicator Organisms (FIOs): their role in tackling diffuse
pollution in the Hampshire Avon catchment
Faecal Indicator Organisms (FIOs) are bacteria that live in the guts of warm blooded animals. FIOs in
water indicate the presence of faecal material and this means that there may also be pathogenic
micro-organism in the water. In the Hampshire Avon a major cause of the water quality issues
identified are associated with the transfer of animal wastes to surface waters. The measurement of
FIOs provides an indirect quantification of the amount of animal waste being received by surface waters, thereby
enabling identification of the impact and subsequent mitigation of pollution from this source within the catchment.
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is a significant piece of EC legislation, designed to protect and improve the
quality of water bodies throughout Europe. The revised Bathing Waters Directive (2006/7/EC), that comes into effect in
2015, has been incorporated into the WFD, introducing stringent microbial parameters, determined as concentrations of
FIOs (CFU 100 ml-1), for both inland and coastal waters. This introduces the risk that more water bodies will fail due to
microbial pollution, making it even more important that we reduce quantities of FIOs in surface waters. Currently FIOs
are defined by international legislation as Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci. They are detected by using
standard microbiological techniques.
Sources of FIOs and associated
pathogens:
Grazing livestock
Spreading organic
resources
Farm yard runoff
Septic tanks
Impacts on:
Water quality
Industries dependant on
clean water
Rural economies
Public health
Pathways:
Drains
Ditches
Farm tracks
Livestock in streams
Runoff
Mitigation measures
Excluding livestock from
water courses - Fencing
Improvements to farm yard
infrastructure – separation
of clean/dirty water
Targeted manure
management advice
The Hampshire Avon DTC is being led by Professor Adrian Collins from ADAS. The first phase of the project runs until
31st March 2014. For further details please contact:
Prof. Adrian Collins (Project Lead) Email: [email protected]
Fiona Grant (Project Officer and Local Contact) Email: [email protected]
Website: www.avondtc.org.uk
If you would like to join the Hampshire Avon DTC and be part of this project, please get in touch. Your local knowledge,
experience, expertise and advice will be invaluable in helping to develop the right catchment and farm management
solutions for reducing pollution in the Hampshire Avon catchment.