Some Preliminary Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Parameters of Marine Water in Durrës, Albania

The Currila coastline, situated in a densely populated region, undergoes a significant increase in anthropogenic activity during the tourist season, particularly from June to September. This area is characterized by a high concentration of hotels, apartments, restaurants, and both public and private beaches, which attract large numbers of visitors during the peak summer months. The preservation of water quality in this coastal zone is crucial, not only for safeguarding public health but also for protecting the integrity of marine ecosystems. This study investigates key physicochemical parameters such us temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity and salinity, as well as biological indicators of pollution, including Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis. The results indicated that water temperature ranged from 12.53 °C to 24.63 °C; turbidity from 8.1 to 290 NTU; dissolved oxygen from 7.49 to 9.04 mg/L; pH from 7.78 to 8.9; EC from 36,33 to 48,08 mS/m, TDS from 25.43 to 33.66 g/L; and salinity from 23.6 to 38.7 psu. Moderate to high concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria were detected during the microbiological sampling period. These findings offer important baseline data for local authorities and environmental agencies, supporting the development of preventive strategies against anthropogenic pollution and the implementation of monitoring systems for the discharge of untreated wastewater into the marine environment.