Isolation and Identification of Pathogenic Bacteria from Drinking Water

Drinking water microbiological quality was primarily determined by enumeration of “indicator organisms”, whose presence indicates faecal contamination. The presence of the indicators is often a key in assessing potential public health risks due to bacterial pathogens and is used in drinking water quality regulations and guidelines in many countries. The enumeration of fecal coliform specifically of Escherichia coli (indicator of fecal contamination) from human as well as animal sources per 100 ml of municipal water used for drinking purposes has been recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) worldwide to monitor the quality of drinking water. According to World Health Organization (WHO) guideline standards for drinking water total and fecal coliform the indicator of fecal contamination must not be detectable in any 100 ml samples. The disinfection treatment of drinking water has important role in reducing the waterborne epidemics. The inadequate disinfection treatment of municipal water results in the provision of unsafe drinking water to the people which can pose a great threat and risk of waterborne epidemics by bacterial pathogens to the population consuming it. Such negligence may result in a catastrophic disaster in the area. Water supplying authorities should take account of this situation and take measures for the provision of contamination free drinking water to prevent waterborne disease outbreaks by bacterial pathogens. Copyright © WJBBR, all rights reserved.