bacteriological analysis of drinking water
African Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 5(25) pp. xxx-xxx, 23 November 2011
Available online http://www.academicjournals.org/ajmr
ISSN 1996-0808 ©2011 Academic Journals
DOI: 10.5897/AJMR11.1202
Full Length Research Paper
Bacteriological study of drinking water in the Pakistan’s peri-urban areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi
Nusrat Yasin1, Noureen Shah1, Jafar Khan1*, Noor us Saba2 and Zia ul islam3
1
Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, KPK, Pakistan.
2
National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad.
3
Government College University Lahore.
Accepted 22 November, 2011
In order to ascertain the water and food quality for human consumption the microbial contamination was analyzed in a prospective study which was conducted in collaboration with National Institute of
Health, Islamabad. This surveillance work was carried out during the months of July to August in the peak of the summer season. In order to evaluate the objective parameters for assessment of the public health concerns in the peri-urban areas of both Islamabad and Rawalpindi. A cross section of total 108 water samples from different sources was analyzed by standard microbiological methods. To estimate the amount of faecal coliforms in water samples, the most probable number (MPN) technique was used and it was found that amongst the total water samples (68.5%) had total viable count and (39.9%) were positive for Escherichia coli. This study highlighted the poor hygienic conditions of the water quality standards in this area of investigation. The related endemic health problems can be checked by taking appropriate preventive measures to forestall the major outbreak in the future.
Key words: Faecal coliforms, most probable number (MPN) and Escherichia coli.
INTRODUCTION
Quality water is vital to the health, social and economic well being of people. Harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses are invisible to the naked eye, so water,
Available online http://www.academicjournals.org/ajmr
ISSN 1996-0808 ©2011 Academic Journals
DOI: 10.5897/AJMR11.1202
Full Length Research Paper
Bacteriological study of drinking water in the Pakistan’s peri-urban areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi
Nusrat Yasin1, Noureen Shah1, Jafar Khan1*, Noor us Saba2 and Zia ul islam3
1
Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, KPK, Pakistan.
2
National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad.
3
Government College University Lahore.
Accepted 22 November, 2011
In order to ascertain the water and food quality for human consumption the microbial contamination was analyzed in a prospective study which was conducted in collaboration with National Institute of
Health, Islamabad. This surveillance work was carried out during the months of July to August in the peak of the summer season. In order to evaluate the objective parameters for assessment of the public health concerns in the peri-urban areas of both Islamabad and Rawalpindi. A cross section of total 108 water samples from different sources was analyzed by standard microbiological methods. To estimate the amount of faecal coliforms in water samples, the most probable number (MPN) technique was used and it was found that amongst the total water samples (68.5%) had total viable count and (39.9%) were positive for Escherichia coli. This study highlighted the poor hygienic conditions of the water quality standards in this area of investigation. The related endemic health problems can be checked by taking appropriate preventive measures to forestall the major outbreak in the future.
Key words: Faecal coliforms, most probable number (MPN) and Escherichia coli.
INTRODUCTION
Quality water is vital to the health, social and economic well being of people. Harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses are invisible to the naked eye, so water,
References: Ahmed T, Kanwal R, Tahir SS, Rauf N (2004). Bacteriological Analysis of Water collected from different dams of AlOtaibi ELS (2009). Bacteriological assessment of urban water sources in KhamisMushait Governorate, southwestern Saudi Arabia. Int. J. Health Geograph., 8:16 GuaranTek Analytical Laboratories (2003) Microbiology http://www.guaranteklabs.com/microbiology.htm/ Javed AA (2003) Jay JM (1996) Modern food microbiology, 5th edn. New York, USA: Champan and Hall Publishing Company Khan R, Israili SH, Ahmad H Mohan A (2001). Heavy Metal Pollution Assessment in Surface Water Bodies and its Suitability for irrigation Light L (2000). Cleaning up the mess: other countries have cleaner food than we do Maturin LJ, Peeler JT (1998). Aerobic plate count. Ch. 3. In Food and Drug Administration Bacteriological Analytical Manual, 8th edn. Raloff J (2003). Wash those hands! Science News. 164(15). Zvidzai C, Mukutirwa T, Mundembe R, I.Sithole-Niang (2007).