Coliform Analysis of Water Samples of Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) nearby University of Okara

Abstract

Background: Water pollution is one of the global issues right now due to ever increasing urbanization and industrialization. A perpetual contamination of water is causing a lot of health issues. District Okara, being ranked 23rd by population in Pakistan, is producing a lot of solid waste with improper waste management. The city dwellers used to dump or throw their waste in near passing water canal. So, there is a need to study the water quality of the canal to be considered safe for any consumption. The current study was therefore planned to analyse the coliform content of water from Lower Bari Doab Canal, running in the radius of University of Okara. 
 Materials and Methods: In autoclaved bottles, water sampled from different locations of the canal and processed for onsite physico-chemical parameters (temperature, conductivity, total dissolved solids and pH) using portable meters followed by coliform analysis employing presumptive test and spread plate method on nutrient agar in the laboratory settings.
 Results: The study revealed that all the water sampled were moderately polluted, some of the samples showed high MPN index (1100+) and nutrient agar plates showed aberrant colonies of bacteria. 
 Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that the water in that specific area of canal is not much suitable for even irrigation though it is used for that purpose. Hence, there is a need to take serious measures to aware people about waste management and at larger scale there must be a proper dumping site for waste materials in this area. 
 Key words: Coliforms, Conductivity, Physico chemical, Water pollution, Water quality.