No significant difference was found for generic E. coli counts between the countries (Kendall's tau-c, p = 0.600), in contrast to coliform counts which were significantly higher for Cyprus in comparison to Belgium (Mann–Whitney U Test, Dunn Sidak correction, p b 0.001), but did not differ between Belgium and Israel (Mann–Whitney U Test, Dunn Sidak correction, p = 0.062) and Israel and Cyprus (Mann–Whitney U Test, Dunn Sidak correction, p = 0.059)