Microbial Analysis of Drinking Water and Water Distribution System in New Urban Peshawar

Roohul-Amin ； Syed Shahid Ali ； Zubair Anwar ； Jabar Zaman Khan Khattak

《Current Research Journal of Biological Sciences》 4卷6期 (2012/11) Pp. 731-737

並列摘要

Water pollution due to chemicals and microbes is one of the serious environmental problems, which has greatly impacted human health. Recorded history of contaminated drinking water supply has witnessed various viral, bacterial and protozoan diseases, globally. It is estimated that ＞250 million cases of waterborne diseases are reported worldwide and over 25 million deaths are blamed due to waterborne-diseases. Pakistan has been facing the same problem due to improper water management, obsolete distribution infrastructure, bad sanitary condition and poor drinking water quality. An estimated 70% Pakistani population living in rural areas have no access to potable water distribution system, whereas in urban areas, between 40-60% urban population has access to safe and clean drinking water. In Pakistan, water filtration before distribution is almost non-existence and furthermore, WHO standards or NEQs are not followed for physiochemical and bacteriological analysis of drinking water. This study was conducted for physiochemical and bacteriological analysis of drinking water of new urban areas of Peshawar and compared the old historical areas of the city. Ten areas for drinking water samples were selected and samples were collected from water supply, distribution system and storage tanks. Physio-chemical (pH, turbidity and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and microbial analyses (Total and fecal coli form and ＂E. coli＂) were conducted (APHA, 2005). According to the results, there was a variation of the analyzed physio-chemical parameter in the water sample between old & new urban areas and was found as: pH (6.65-7.91), turbidity (3-9NTU) and TSS (2-6 mg/L). The pH of the all samples was within the permissible limit of WHO guidelines. TSS of the 5 samples was above the permissible limits and turbidity of only 4 samples was within permissible limits. In bacteriological analysis, except one sample collected from the tube well, most samples were Total coliform positive. On the other hand, 6 samples of drinking water from distribution system were ＂fecal coliform＂ positive and 4 samples were ＂E. coli＂ positive. Further epidemiological studies are on-going and more drinking water samples from old urban Peshawar are being evaluated.

並列關鍵字

＂E. coli＂ ； fecal coli form ； total coli form ； water-borne diseases ； water supply