Assessment of Microbial, Physicochemical Quality and Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern of Bacteria of Drinking Water at Santosh, Tangail, Bangladesh

Abstract

Water is one of the most important elements for survival but unfortunately the pollution of these elements is an alarming problem. For leading a healthy life, water should be contamination free from any kinds of water-borne organisms. Water-borne pathogens are a leading cause of disease and death worldwide. The quality of drinking water plays an important role in human infection and disease. The present work was carried out with the assessment of physicochemical and bacteriological profile of several untreated drinking water sources to ensure its suitability for using drinking purposes. Total 12 samples were randomly selected and collected from Santosh, Tangail district of Bangladesh by following the standard procedure. Bacteriological analysis was carried out by following the standard bacteriological methods. Obtained results showed that water of the study area is slightly alkaline and no remarkable variation in the temperature of the water in different locations. In case of most of the water bodies, different physicochemical properties were below standard limit stipulated by WHO. In all water bodies, the Total Viable Count (TVC) ranged from 1.3 × 106 to 4.0 × 107 cfu/100ml and Total Coliform Count (TCC) was 1.05 × 105 to 6.4 × 106 cfu/100 ml, where the Total E. coli Count (TEC) and Total Shigella-Salmonella Count (TSS) was ranged from 7.2 × 103 to 1.1 × 105 cfu/100 ml and 6.1 × 103 to 5.3 × 104 cfu/100 ml respectively. The total counts of these pathogenic bacteria exceeded the acceptable limit and that is dangerous for drinking. On the other hand, the isolated organisms also showed resistance against a broad range of commercially available antibiotics. Survey-based result revealed that, peoples of the study area who were drinking these water, were suffering from various water-borne diseases and that was a major threat to public health. Considering the above issues public awareness, proper water treatment and necessary steps should be taken by the government and authority or necessary steps should be taken for alternative safe source of drinking water.