Abstract
We studied the physical, chemical, and microbiological factors that influence drinking water quality processed from River Tigris, and of the three main drinking water purification stations located at different parts of Tigris River, along with evaluation of drinking water of Al-Shula region in Baghdad city. Water samples were taken monthly from December 2009 to September 2010. Physical and chemical analyses of water included determination of temperature, pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and biological oxygen demand. The results of water before and after purification indicated values within the international allowable levels. Microbial analyses included estimation of the number of total viable microbial counts, total coliform, total fecal E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other pathogenic bacteria that might be present in the water of the three stations and of the Tigris River, and also the tap water from Al-Shula houses. The results indicated that the types and proportions of various bacterial species isolated from different water sources were almost similar. This indicates inefficient purification procedures in all the stations studied, which exceeded the internationally allowable level of pathogens in potable water. Also, this explains the high incidence rate of children diarrheal reported in Al-Shula region.
Highlights
Safety and quality of drinking water are always an important public health concern [1, 2]
In order to assess the water quality of a particular pond, stream or lake, we conducted tests to determine the level of dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, nitrate, and phosphate in the water as well as the pH, temperature, and turbidity
(1) Total coliform counts and fecal E. coli counts at the three stations in all seasons were more than the international permissible levels recommended by World Health Organization (WHO)
Summary
Safety and quality of drinking water are always an important public health concern [1, 2]. According to UNICEF report, about 800 million people in Asia and Africa are living without access to safe drinking water. This has caused many people to suffer from various diseases [3]. Inadequate quantity, poor quality of drinking water, and poor sanitation are the main reasons in incidence and prevalence of diseases in the world [4]. Contamination of water has been frequently found associated with transmission of diseases causing bacteria, Vibrio, Salmonella, bacterial and parasitic dysentery, and acute infection diarrhea causing E. coli [5]. Poor sanitation and food sources are integral to enteric pathogen exposure
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