Abstract

BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF WATER USED FOR DRINKING FROM BOREHOLE OF OMERGA REGION, OSMANABAD DISTRICT IN MAHARASHTRA

Imamuddin Ustad*

Abstract

Four groundwater samples have been collected from Omerga region for the study of physicochemical parameters. Rapid development in recent years has led to an increased demand for water, which is increasingly being fulfilled by groundwater abstraction. None of the samples complied with bacteriological standards as Total coliform counts generally exceeded 1,600 MPN/ml, and pathogen count such as Salmonella-Shigella counts and Vibrio cholera counts were very high. A detailed knowledge of the water quality can enhance understanding of the hydro chemical system, to achieve this; a hydro chemical investigation was carried out in the study area. Hand pump samples were chemically analyzed for major physicochemical parameter in order to understand the different geochemical processes affecting the groundwater quality. The analytical results shows higher concentration of total dissolved solids (26.56%), chloride (35.33%) total hardness (63%) and magnesium (83.66%) which indicates signs of deterioration as per WHO and ISI standards. The presence of pathogens in water for drinking purposes is of public health significance considering the possibility of the presence of other bacteria, protozoa and enteric viruses that are implicated in gastro-intestinal water borne diseases and the low infectious dose for these water borne pathogens.

Keywords: Groundwater pollution, Bacteria, protozoa, Physicochemical parameters, TDS, etc.