Water - Borne Pathogens from Diffrent Sources of Jabalpur Region

Abstract

Water-borne diseases constitute one of the major public hazards in developing countries(WHO 1997), in India, more than 70 % of the epidemic are either water-borne or water related( Khera et.al.1996). The pathogens most frequently transmitted through water are those which cause infection of the intestinal tract namely Typhoid and Paratyphoid bacteria, Dysentery (Bacillary and amoebic) and Cholera bacteria and enteric virus. Among the micro-organisms 61% bacteria are water-borne pathogens.
Samples of surface, ground and drinking water were collected from Jabalpur region. Surface water samples were collected from the river Narmada and Bargi reservoir. Ground and drinking water samples were collected from wells, Hand -pump and Municipal supply. Samples were collected in sterilized borosil glass bottles (Cap. 300ml). These samples were brought in ice bags where the temperature was maintained at 4^oC to freeze the activity of microbes present in water. To assess the presence of water borne pathogens, indicator parameters viz. Heterotophic plate count(HPC), Total coliform count (TCC), Feacal coliform count (FCC), Feacal streptococci count(FSC), presence of pseudomonas and Aeromonas and Total count of yeast and mould were studies by standard methodologies recommended by American Public Health Association (APHA, 1995) and Bureau of Indian standards.
In comparison to ground and drinking water (collected from well, hand pump and corporation water supply), the surface water (collected from Narmada and impounded water sample from upstream of Bargi Reservoir) showed higher numbers (i.e 2 to 10 times increase in all the indicator parameters). All indicator parameters indicate that there was a sharp decline between Mandla and Bargi Reservoir largely due to the dilution of the point load of sewage from Mandla (river Narmada) and absence of any point source sewage up to Bargi reservoir. All ground water and drinking water sample showed the presence of Coliforms,Faecal streptococci, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Yeast and Mould. However, except for some indicator microorganisms, most water samples were found to be contaminated with water-borne pathogens.