Project summary/Policy brief project SARA

The analysis of the microbiological quality of water is an essential step for identifying the sanitary and environmental risks caused by faecal contamination. Assessment of the entire range of pathogen microorganisms is difficult and expensive, so microbial indicators are typically used for water quality management. However, a better understanding of the fate of pathogenic viruses and antibiotic resistant bacteria from the sources to river basins and estuaries are urgently required. The AquaticPollutant project SARA “Surveillance of Emerging Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistances in Aquatic Ecosystems” determined the prevalence of pathogenic viruses (including SARS-CoV-2), microbial indicators, antibiotic resistance, and microbial source tracking markers in wastewater, surface water, coastal sea waters, sediment and bivalve molluscan shellfish in catchments located in different climate areas (Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Israel, Uganda, and Mozambique). The most important results and monitoring recommendations from the SARA project are summarized in this document.