TABLE 3.
Observed values and descriptive statistics for the microbial concentrations of the Danube from 2010 to 2015 (Cr in Equation 1) and the Kruskal–Wallis test results showing that the simulated and observed values were not significantly different (p ≥ 0.05).
| Parameter | Observed dataset detected/n | Observed median (minimum, maximum) [particles/L] | Distribution | Descriptive statistical parameter values gamma distribution: shape/location/scale; normal distribution: mean/standard deviation | Kruskal–Wallis p | Comment |
| Human MST marker | 50/62 | 5.39 × 103 (60, 1.41 × 106) | Gamma | 0.23 / 58 / 80,000 | 0.05 | After model optimization based on OF (Equation 14) |
| Ruminant MST marker | 21/60 | 250 (60, 4.54 × 104) | Gamma | 0.23 / 58.5 / 10,766 | 0.14 | |
| Pig MST marker | 14/60 | 220 (60, 1.58 × 105) | Gamma | 0.25 / 58.5 / 3,700 | 0.11 | |
| Bird MST marker | 16/23 | 1.21 × 104 (60, 2.19 × 105) | Gamma | 0.45 / 58 / 20,000 | 0.05 | |
| E. coli | 64/64 | 570 (20, 4.9 × 104) | Gamma | 0.19 / 100 / 27,000 | 0.33 | |
| Giardia | 21/31 | 0.8 (0.2, 4.4) | Normal | 1.39 / 1.17 | 0.45 | stats fit function in Python 3.7 |
| Cryptosporidium | 19/31 | 0.8 (0.2, 6.44) | Normal | 1.29 / 1.42 | 0.40 |
Non-detects were replaced by half of the TOD (MST markers) or half of the LOD (E. coli, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium).