Bacterial population in the coastal water of Orissa, up to 10 km from shoreline along 6 transects were observed during 2005-06 and 2006-07. Total viable counts (TVC), total coliforms (TC), faecal coliforms (FC), faecal streptococci (FS), presumptive E. coli, Shigella, Salmonella, Proteus/Klebsiella, total Vibrio, Vibrio cholera, V.