eng Science and Education Publishing Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences 2328-3920 2014-11-24 2 5 123 129 10.12691/aees-2-5-3 AEES2014253 article Alaa Aqso 1 Kübra Özkul 1 Haydar Karakaya hkarakay@omu.edu.tr 1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, University of Ondokuz Mayıs, Samsun, Turkey Bacterial contamination levels of representative 4 natural springs were detected seasonally through indicator bacterial contents in a rural area of Ordu, Türkiye. Total coliform bacteria, enterococi, Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens spores were used as the indicator organisms. According to the bacterial parameters, none of the detected springs comply with the standards implemented by the state health authorities. Contamination level of the springs increases with human and domestic animal activities in spring and summer. Using PCR and duplex PCR, samples collected from the most densely contaminated spring, So?uksu, were analyzed for three pathogenic bacterial groups. After eight-hour enrichment of the samples, positive results were found only for Salmonella spp. In conclusion, this investigation revealed that the natural springs used for drinking water supply in the research area are exposed to bacterial contaminations and the level of contamination increased with settlement density. http://pubs.sciepub.com/aees/2/5/3/aees-2-5-3.pdf spring water bacterial contamination cultural tests PCR analyses