Bacteria in ground and coastal waters

The presence of bacteria in water on the one hand represents a potential risk to the health of the population and on the other hand shows the adaptability to chemical pollutants that affect the environment.The contamination of water by different pathogens demands the search for alternatives to ensure its potabilization and avoid gastrointestinal diseases. In this sense the use of chlorine has been fundamental to inactivate waterborne microorganisms. However its use is linked to the potential formation of toxic by-products which can represent a risk to public health. On the other hand bacteria also play an important role in soil and water remediation by growing and degrading different contaminants such as different hydrocarbons (HCs).