ABSTRACT
The relationship between the number of Escherichia coli, terrestrial and marine heterotrophic bacteria, with certain physical and chemical parameters in Bahia Blanca estuary waters, were investigated by means of a statistical analysis of multiple linear regression. The samples were taken during a period of 16 months. Although distance from the sewage outlet seems to be the factor having the greatest effect on the number of alien bacteria, the models obtained for E. coli are inappropriate to predict bacterial behaviour in this particular natural habitat, while for heterotrophic bacteria descriptive models were selected. The results of this study suggest that many factors affect bacterial population densities in this estuarine ecosystem. This should be taken into account trying to solve the problem in order to avoid progressive degradation.