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The San Pablo River is located in the province of Veraguas, Panama. Approximately 148 km long, it originates in the Tabasará mountain range and flows into the Gulf of Montijo. Its watershed covers approximately 2,453 km², making it a vital resource for agriculture, livestock farming, and the mangrove ecosystem. It is also an attraction for tourism, water sports, and sport fishing. Given its importance, it is essential to ensure the care and constant monitoring of its water quality. To this end, microbiological analyses were conducted in 2014 in a section of the river, specifically near the town of Soná. The selected sampling points were Tolerique, Hacienda California, and Hacienda Tólica. At each site, five samples were collected during the rainy season and three during the dry season. For each sample, three subsamples were taken: two from the banks and one from the center of the river. Subsequently, the subsamples were homogenized to obtain a composite sample per site, which was transported in coolers to the laboratory of the Centro Regional Universitario de Veraguas. Analysis was performed using the most probable number (MPN) technique in multiple tubes with brilliant green bile broth, supplemented by confirmation in SIM tubes. The results showed that the sampled sites presented similar concentrations of total and fecal coliforms. However, when comparing the seasons, a higher concentration of fecal coliforms was observed during the rainy season in the studied section of the river.
