Characterization of Waters from Rural Water Supplies (RWS) for Assessing Chemical and Microbial Contamination Status
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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2015) 4(8): 791-803 ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 4 Number 8 (2015) pp. 791-803 http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article Characterization of Waters from Rural Water Supplies (RWS) for Assessing Chemical and Microbial Contamination Status P. Lakshmi Ganapati1*, T.Siva Rao2, V.Ranga Rao1 and P.V.S.Machi Raju3 1Department of Chemistry, Government College (A), Rajahmundry- 533101, A.P., India 2Department of Inorganic & Analytical Chemistry, Andhra University, Vizag-530003, A.P., India 3Department of Chemistry, Pragati Engineering College, Surampalem-533437, A.P., India *Corresponding author A B S T R A C T Water pollution due to chemical constituents, Metal ions and micro organisms is one of the serious environmental problems, which has greatly impacted human health. The aim of the present study is to characterize the Rural Water Supply waters collected before and after treatment from Mandal Head Quarters of K e y w o r d s Iragavaram and Undrajavaram of Eluru Revenue division in West Godavari district during pre and post monsoon seasons to estimate the chemical contamination status Parameter, and metal toxicity. The parameters characterized include pH, Electrical Characterization, conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved solids (TDS), Total hardness (TH), Total Drinking water, Alkalinity (TA), Na, K, Calcium and Magnesium, Chloride, Sulphate, Nitrate, Metal ion, Fluoride, Phosphate and Metal ions Viz., Li, Be, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Bacteria As, Rb, Sr, Ag, Cd, Cs, Ba, Tl, Pb and U. The waters are further characterized for identification of Bacterial spps. The research results revealed that the presence of higher levels of certain chemical parameters and presence of bacteria confirmed their unsuitability for drinking and domestic applications. The waters are to be treated by ultra and nano filtration techniques to reduce the total dissolved solids and disinfection and sterilization methods are to be applied for removing bacterial contamination before use of these waters for drinking and domestic purposes. Introduction Water plays a significant role in sustenance environmental determinant of health (WHO, of life and it is a key pillar of health 2010). Drinking water quality management determinant, since 80% of diseases in has been a key pillar of primary prevention developing countries are due to lack of good and it continues to be the foundation for the quality water (Cheesbrough, 2006). Human control of water borne diseases (WHO, population growth poses a great pressure on 2010). The safety of water supplies is of supply of safe drinking water especially in paramount public health importance. An developing countries (Okonko et al., 2009). estimated 13% of the world population The quality of drinking water is a powerful lacked access to improved drinking-water 791 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2015) 4(8): 791-803 sources in 2008 [UNICEF and World Health drinking of contaminated water leads to the Organization (WHO) 2011], and almost death of five million children annually and 10% of the total burden of disease make 1/6 of the world population sick worldwide could be prevented by improving (Shittu et al., 2008). The microbiological drinking-water supply, sanitation, hygiene, quality of drinking water has attracted great and the management of water resources attention worldwide because of implied (Prüss-Üstün et al., 2008). Inadequate public health impacts (Amira, 2011). quantity, poor quality of drinking water, and poor sanitation are the main reasons in Keeping in view the present scenario in incidence and prevalence of diseases in the water supply system in particular rural water world (WHO, 2004). supply in our country, the present research work is focused on characterization of Water may contain toxic inorganic waters for physicochemical parameters to chemicals which may cause either acute or assess the chemical contamination status and chronic health effect. Acute effects include metal ions to estimate the metal toxicity and nausea, lung irritation, skin rash, vomiting microbial (bacteria) analysis in waters to and dizziness, sometime death usually evaluate the microbial contamination and to occurred. Chronic effect, like cancer, birth suggest the concerned authorities for defects, organs damage, disorder of the initiating the required remedial measures to nervous system and damage to the immune safe guard the health of the public who system are usually more common (Erah et consume these waters for drinking and al., 2002). Inorganic chemicals like lead domestic purposes. may produce adverse health effect which include interference with red blood cell Materials and Methods chemistry, delay in normal physical and mental development in babies and young The study areas selected for present research children, slit deficit in attention span, include the Revenue Mandal Head Quarters hearing and learning abilities of children and of Iragavaram and Undrajavaram of slight increase in blood pressure in some Kovvuru revenue division in West Godavari adults. Chemicals in water supplies can be District, A.P, India. The details of sample related to health risks, generally when code, sampling area, status, type of source associated with long-term exposures and Coordinates of study area are presented (Thompson et al., 2007). in table 1. The study area maps are presented in figure 1. Microbiological contamination is the largest cause of waterborne disease at a global Physicochemical characterization scale. A more recent estimate (Witt, 1982), based on WHO reports suggests that 80% of RWS samples collected during pre and post all human illness in the developing world is monsoon periods are characterized for associated with polluted water, and that physicochemical parameters viz., pH, most of those illnesses are caused by Electrical conductivity (EC), Total biological contamination. Water borne Dissolved solids (TDS), Total hardness diseases such as cholera and typhoid often (TH), Total Alkalinity (TA), Sodium, have their outbreak especially during dry Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium, season (Banu and Menakuru, 2010; Chloride, Sulphate, Nitrate, Fluoride and Adenkunle et al., 2004). Diseases due to Phosphate. pH determined by pH meter 792 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2015) 4(8): 791-803 (Global-DPH 505, India-Model) and table 5. The identified bacterial spp are Conductivity measured by the digital represented in figure 15. conductivity meter (Global-DCM-900- Model). TDS is determined from the relation Results and Discussion TDS=Electrical conductivity (EC) X 0.64. Chloride, Total hardness, Total Alkalinity pH and Chloride are estimated by titrimetry. Sulphate and phosphate by Pre monsoon: pH of waters before treatment spectrophotometer (Model-167, Systronics). in Iragavaram and Undrajavaram are 7.8 and Na and K by Flame photometer (Model-125, 7.7 respectively, while the average pH of Systronics). The samples are analyzed as per waters after treatment is 8.1 for each. the standard procedures (Ramteke and Moghe, 1998). The analytical data of Post monsoon: pH of waters before physicochemical parameters are presented in treatment of the above two mandals are 7.8 table 2 & 3 respectively. The and 8.2 respectively, while the average pH of physicochemical parameters of drinking waters after treatment is 8.1 and 8.0 water samples before treatment (BT) and respectively. pH levels of waters during pre after treatment (AT) are represented and post monsoon seasons are within the no graphically in figures 2 to14. problematic range of drinking water standards (IS: 10500, 1992). Characterization of metal ions Electrical Conductivity (EC) The treated water samples for metal ions are analyzed by employing Inductively Coupled Pre monsoon: EC of untreated waters of Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) Iragavaram and Undrajavaram are 2390 and technique and the analytical data generated 924 µmhos/cm respectively, while the in ppb was converted to ppm and the details average EC of treated waters is 2390 and are presented in table 4. 935.8 µmhos/cm respectively. Higher levels of EC in waters of Iragavaram and Microbial (Bacterial) analysis Undrajavaram indicate slightly saline nature. The drinking water samples after treatment Post monsoon: EC of untreated waters of are collected in sterilized containers and the above two mandals are 2190 and 771 immediately processed for analysis for µmhos/cm respectively; while the average determining the MPN count by the most EC of treated waters is 1930 and 761.8 probable Number (MPN) technique. The µmhos/cm respectively. Higher levels of EC enumeration for the Coliform count involves in waters of Undrajavaram indicate slightly the presumptive test using lactose broth and saline nature. Nutrient agar confirmatory test using Eosin Methylene Blue (EBM) agar, pure colonies Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of the isolated were subjected to Grams stain, motility, Indole, Methyl red, Voges Pre monsoon: TDS of waters before Proskauer Citrate utilization (IMViC) tests, treatment of Iragavaram and Undrajavaram Urease test, Catalse and Oxidase test. The are 1529.6 and 591.3 mg/L respectively. The cultural, Morphological characteristics and average TDS is 1529.6 and 598.9 mg/L the details of Biochemical characterization respectively in waters after treatment. TDS for identification of bacteria are presented in of waters from Iragavaram and 793 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2015) 4(8): 791-803 Undrajavaram are slightly higher indicating Sodium (Na+) saline nature. Pre monsoon: Sodium ion concentration of Post monsoon: TDS of waters before untreated waters of Iragavaram and treatment of the above mandals are 1401.6 Undrajavaram are 33.9 and 20.7 mg/L and 498.4 mg/L respectively. The average respectively, while its average concentration TDS is 1235.2 and 487.5 mg/L respectively is 32.9 and 20.5 mg/L respectively in treated in waters after treatment. TDS of waters waters and the levels are within the from Undrajavaram are slightly higher permissible limit of WHO standards. indicating saline nature. Post monsoon: Sodium ion concentration of Total Hardness (TH) untreated waters of the two mandals is 324.5 and 51.9 mg/L respectively.