Why E. coli and not Enterococci?
In the study listed as #2 above, E. coli levels were found to have the best correlation with highly credible cases of gastrointestinal illness in freshwater systems. While Enterococci had the best correlation in marine systems, either E. coli or Enterococci were deemed acceptable fecal indicators in freshwater systems. In addition to the EPA studies, the WDNR conducted a study prior to the first BEACH season of 2003 in which 3 state park beaches were monitored for E. coli and Enterococci. The E. coli yielded the most reliable and consistent results in their study.
