PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF WATER SAMPLES IN KARAMAN PROVINCE

Abstract

Introduction: Water quality is important to protect public health and also for the environment. There are several microorganisms transmitted by drinking unsafe water. This study aimed to determine the physical, chemical and microbiological quality of water samples in rural and urban areas of the Karaman province. Materials and Methods: Natural spring, city and pool water samples were collected into sterile bottles of 250 milliliters and non-sterile bottles of 1500 milliliters for microbiological and physico-chemical analysis, respectively, from January to July 2016. Some physico-chemical parameters (taste, color, odour, turbidity, total hardness, transparency, pH, ammonium, chlorides, phosphate and nitrates) were analyzed. Chemical analyses were performed by using commercial kits. Before bacterial inoculation, water samples were filtered by a membrane filtration system and analyzed in terms of coliform bacteria. The results of the physical, chemical and microbiological experiments of water samples were evaluated according to World Health Organization standards. Results: Twenty-eight of the 71 drinking water samples of special request, 156 of 301 drinking water samples for control, 3 of 24 water samples of pool water and none of 18 drinking water for market surveillance and inspection were found unsafe in terms of microbiological analysis. Nine of 52 drinking water samples of special request, none of 267 drinking water samples for control and 19 of 25 water samples of pool water were found unsafe in terms of physico-chemical analysis. Conclusion: In conclusion we determined the physical, chemical and microbiological quality of water samples in the Karaman province of Turkey in comparison with the international standards. It was detected that some water samples in Karaman province were found unsafe for microbiological and for some physico-chemical criteria. It was evaluated that the reason for unsafe pool water results was related to bacterial contamination of pools and artesian well water source.