EVALUATION OF ENTERIC BACTERIA AND ITS ASSOCIATION IN BIOFILM FORMATION IN POTABLE WATER SAMPLES

Abstract

Drinking water quality is a dynamic distress to mankind as it is directly allied with human welfare and in this sense,
evaluation of enteric bacterial contamination to potable water samples was executed. Seasonal sampling was designed in
the study and a total of 90 water samples were collected from three different sources of potable water of Mysuru city.
The Hi-Crome coliform chromogenic agar was used as a selective, presumptive medium to isolate bacteria. Water
analysis revealed the presence of H2
S producing bacteria, total coliforms count bared 6 CFU/100 ml to too numerous to
count (TNTC) CFU/100 ml, respectively. Pure cultures of bacteria were characterized by biochemical tests and
molecular documentation. Thus, obtained results were statistically analyzed. Sequences encompassed in this paper are
deposited in the NCBI database. Screening for detection of biofilm formation by the bacterial isolates was verified and
only one isolate was successfully recovered from harvested rainwater samples. The analysis exposed the water quality
was well above the permissible limits of WHO for the first year and an improvement of quality in the second year. The
results clearly revealed the poor quality of potable water samples. The detection of H2
S producing bacteria, a higher
range of total coliforms and biofilm forming bacterial pathogens in potable water sources is a potential indicator of health
hazard to person in contact with water and thus pose a risk to the community residents of the city.