ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Bacteriological and Physico-Chemical Quality
of Main Drinking Water Sources
Pavan Kumar Pindi, P. Raghuveer Yadav, Ashwitha Kodaparthi
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Department of Microbiology, Palamuru University, Mahabubnagar,
Andhra Pradesh 509001, India
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2013;22(3):825-830
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Drinking water quality assessment in Mahabubnagar has been always been crucial with reference to
public health. A study was conducted to evaluate the bacteriological and physico-chemical analysis of drinking
water supply of the Mahabubnagar district in India. Four samples were collected from Ramanpadu and
Koilsagar water (both natural reservoir and filtered), and for each sample bacteriological parameters and
chemical parameters were evaluated. The bacteriological results indicated that the bacterial count was highest
in Ramanpadu water (RP-736 CFU/ml) and the least count was found in Koilsagar water (KS-06 CFU/ml).
The total plate count revealed the highest count in Koilsagar filter (KSF) water and the least in Koilsagar (KS)
water. The most probable number method was used to detect and count the total coliform and E. coli. Results
revealed that the one indicator bacteria were present in two samples (RP and RPF). The samples were monitored
for the various physicochemical parameters comprising pH, EC, color, turbidity, phenolpthalene alkalinity,
methyl orange alkalinity, total alkalinity, total hardness, phenolic compounds, anionic detergents, residual
chlorine, mineral oil, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons as PAH, cyanide, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO¯3,
SO2-4, NO¯3, Cl¯, F¯, and trace metals such as Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg, Se, Ag, and Cr. The pH of water samples
was alkaline and varied from 7.21 to 7.96, and the mean value was 7.52. In this study, all 4 samples did
not exceed the reference values for chemical parameters. The results showed that physiochemical parameters
are within permissible limits.