Assignment on

BACTERIOLOGICAL WATER POLLUTION

&
HEALTH EFFECTS

BY

BILAL AHMAD SAJID

M.Phil/PhD-1st semester
Session: 2009
Submitted To:

Dr. Sardar Khan

Associate Professor
Department of Environmental Sciences

DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCES
UNIVERSITYOF PESHAWAR
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Fist of all greatness, sanctity and glory to Almighty ALLAH, who blessed
me to complete my assignment successfully. I will acknowledge prays and
love of my parents which enabled me to complete my assignment. I will
also acknowledge the assistance, guidance and continuous feed back from
Mr. Sardar Khan Associate Professor in Department of Environmental
Sciences University of Peshawar. It has been pleasure learning from all my
class fellows. I will be very thankful to the librarian of Department of
Environmental Sciences who provided me book in time. Last but not the
least I am grateful & thankful to The University of Peshawar which
provided me a platform for learning and brightening my future.

BILAL AHMAD SAJID

1
 SUMMARY

Water contaminated with Pathogenic Bacteria of Faecal Origin is a major

cause of water borne epidemic diseases like Diarrhoea, Cholera, Typhoid
Fever, Paratyphoid Fever, Bacillary Dysentery, Gastroenteritis, E.
coli Infections, Legionellosis, and Leptospirosis etc. The major target of
these diseases is Digestive system, especially human intestines. Human
body acts as a reservoir for these bacteria. Prevention of these epidemic
diseases requires inspection of water supply and bacteriological water
analysis regularly, Proper disinfection and boiling water before drinking.
Curing of these diseases needs oral or intravenous replacement of fluids
and salts, bed rest, prescribed antibiotics and proper vaccination.

2
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

S.No CONTENTS Page #

Acknowledgement
Summary
1 INTRODUCTION 1
2 OBJECTIVES 1
3 BACTERIA 2
4 BACTERIOLOGICAL WATER POLLUTION 2
5 SOURCES OF BACTERIA IN DRINKING WATER 2-4
SOME MILD (RELATIVELY) WATERBORNE INFECTIOUS
6 4
DISEASES OF BACTERIA
6.1 Campylobacteriosis 4
6.2 E.coli Infection 5
6.3 Legionellosis 5
6.4 Leptospirosis 5
THE MOST SERIOUS WATERBORNE BACTERIOLOGICAL
7 5
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
7.1 DIARRHOEA 5-6
7.2 TYPHOID 6-7
7.2.1 Symptoms 6
7.2.2 Means of Spreading 7
7.2.3 Mortality Rate 7
7.2.4 Prevention and treatment 7
7.3 PARATYPHOID FEVER 8
7.3.1 Symptoms 8
7.3.2 Means of Spreading 8
7.3.3 Mortality Rate 8
7.3.4 Treatment 8
7.4 CHOLERA 8-10
7.4.1 Symptoms 9
7.4.2 Means of Spreading 9
7.4.3 Severe Cases 9

1
7.4.4 Mortality Rate 9
7.4.5 Prevention 9
7.4.6 Treatment 9-10
7.5 BACILLARY DYSENTERY/SHIGELLOSIS/BLOODY FLUX 10-11
7.5.1 Symptoms 10
7.5.2 Means of Spreading 10
7.5.3 Mortality 10
7.5.4 Prevention and Treatment 11
RECENT OUTBREAK OF BACTERIOLOGICAL INFECTIOUS
8 11
DISEASE IN PAKISTAN
DETECTION & MEASUREMENT OF PATHOGENIC
9 11-12
BACTERIA IN WATER
AVOIDING WATERBORNE BACTERIOLOGICAL EPIDEMIC
10 12
DISEASES
11 TREATMENT OF THE ACTIVE PATIENTS AND CARRIERS 13
12 CONCLUSION 14
BIBLIOGRAPHY 15
Books 15
DVD Source 15-16
Online Source 16-18
Figures 18-19

LIST OF FIGURES

Figures Page#
Figure 1 Waterborne Pathological Diseases Rout 3
Figure 2 E.coli O157:H7 5
Figure 3 Diarrhoea symptoms in Children 5
Figure 4 Frequent Bowls: Symptom of Diarrhoea 6
Figure 5 Salmonella Typhi 6
Figure 6 Vibrio Cholerae 8
Figure 7 Boil Water before Drinking 9
Figure 8 Severe Abdominal Cramps 10
Figure 9 Counting Bacterial Colonies on Membrane filter 11

1
Figure
Disinfection by Ultra Violet Rays 12
10
Figure
Diagnosis, Bed Rest & Proper Antibiotics 13
11

1
Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

1. INTRODUCTION

I voluntarily selected this topic as an assignment of my M.Phil course in

which I have tried to explain in detail the contamination of drinking water
with pathogenic bacteria through various sources but especially faecal
pathogenic bacteria along with its impacts on human health. I have
mentioned briefly some mild diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria in
water. I have also explained in detail, although not all but most of the
infectious waterborne epidemic diseases spread by consuming water
contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. Along with the explanation of
these infectious diseases I have also tried to explain the techniques for
detecting pathogenic bacteria in drinking water, prevention of these
infectious epidemic diseases and curing/ treatment techniques.

2. OBJECTIVES

My major objectives of taking this assignment are

2.1 To understand clearly and in some detail, the contamination

of drinking water with pathogenic bacteria of faecal origin.

2.2 To identify relationship between bacteriological water

contamination and major infectious epidemic diseases specially
diarrhoea, typhoid fever, cholera and dysentery.

2.3 To build up my confidence by presenting this assignment in

front of my colleagues.

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

3. BACTERIA

Bacteria are microscopic single celled prokaryotic organism that use

soluble food and are capable of self reproduction without sunlight. They
range in Size from 0.5 to 5µ & have wide range of shapes ranging
from spheres to rods and spirals. They reproduce by binary fission usually
after each 20 minutes under ideal conditions.1

4. BACTERIOLOGICAL WATER POLLUTION

We categorize bacteria into two groups i.e. pathogenic and non-

pathogenic. The pathogenic bacteria are those which cause diseases in
human & other animals while non-pathogenic bacteria are those which are
harmless or may be useful. 2

The water is considered bacteriologically polluted only when pathogenic

bacteria get into it. Pathogenic bacteria transmitted directly by water or
indirectly through water to food, constitute one of the principle sources of
morbidity and mortality in many developing countries.3

Scientists have recognized four classes of water related diseases. Class 1

includes the true waterborne diseases which are due to drinking water
containing pathogens. And bacteria are the major cause of waterborne
diseases.4

The presence of pathogenic bacteria is a major concern when considering

the safety of drinking water. Fortunately, 90% of bacterial population dies
off within 48 hours of their entry into water.5

1 Viessman, W., & Hammer, M. (2005). Water Supply and Pollution Control. 7th edition, Pearson
Prentice Hall, New Jersey US, pp. 521
2 Khopkar, S.M. (2004). Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Control. New Age International (P)
Limited, New Delhi, pp. 228
3 Agarwal, S.K. (2005). Water Pollution. APH Publishing corporation New Delhi, pp. 244,245
4 Mason, C.F. (1991). Biology of Fresh Water Pollution. 2nd edition, Jhon Wiley & Sons, Inc New
York, pp51,52
5 Oram, B. Sources of Bacteria in Drinking Water. Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Retrieved November 2, 2009, from http://www.water-research.net/bacteria.htm

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

5. SOURCES OF BACTERIA IN DRINKING WATER

Human and animal wastes are a primary source of bacteria in water.

These sources of bacterial contamination include runoff from feedlots,
pastures, dog runs, and other land areas where animal wastes are
deposited. 6

Additional sources include seepage or discharge from septic tanks,

sewage treatment facilities, and natural soil/plant bacteria.7

6 ibid
7 Khopkar, S.M. opcit.

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

Figure 1: Waterborne Pathological Diseases Rout

Source: http://www.epi-net.org/eng/past_conf_files/water_conf/Talk%202.pdf

Bacteria from these sources can enter wells that are either open at the
land surface, or do not have water-tight casings or caps. Insects, rodents
or animals entering the well are other sources of contamination. Old wells
were dug by hand and lined (cased) with rocks or bricks. These wells
usually have large openings and casings that often are not well-sealed.
This makes it easy for insects, rodents, or animals to enter the well.
Another way bacteria can enter a water supply is through inundation or
infiltration by flood waters or by surface runoff. Flood waters commonly
contain high levels of bacteria. Older water systems, especially, dug wells,

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

spring-fed systems and cistern-type systems are most vulnerable to

bacterial contamination. Any systems with casings or caps that are not
water-tight are vulnerable.8

There are 10 times as many bacteria in human body as there are human
cells in the body.9 Most of These Bacteria are non-pathogenic (harmless &
a few beneficial) & a few Pathogenic causing infectious diseases.10

There are about 10 to1000 billion bacteria (pathogenic & non-pathogenic)

per gram of feces. 40 % of fecal mass is microbial cell material11 and this
single gram of faeces contains about 400-500 species of bacteria and 140
types of enteric viruses.12

The targets of waterborne bacterial infections are intestines and major

symptom of intestinal infections is diarrhoea.13

6. SOME MILD (RELATIVELY) WATERBORNE INFECTIOUS

DISEASES OF BACTERIA

6.1 Campylobacteriosis (Gastroenteritis): It produces dysentery like

symptoms along with a high fever. Poultry, dogs & cats are its hosts and it
usually lasts 2-10 days.14

8 Oram, B. Sources of Bacteria in Drinking Water. Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Retrieved November 2, 2009, from http://www.water-research.net/bacteria.htm
9 American Society for Microbiology (2008, June 5). Humans Have Ten Times More Bacteria Than
Human Cells: How Do Microbial Communities Affect Human Health?. ScienceDaily. Retrieved
November 7, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080603085914.htm
10 Human flora. (2009, October 29). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved, November 7,
2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Human_flora&oldid=322726339
11 Turco, R., & Colon, M.C. Pathogens in the Environment. EPI Net & Indiana Water Resources
Research Center. Retrieved, November 7, 2009, from http://www.epi-
net.org/eng/past_conf_files/water_conf/Talk%202.pdf
12 Griffin, W.D. Waste Water Microbiology. US Geological Survey. Retrieved, November 7, 2009,
from http://www.waterinstitute.ufl.edu/symposium/downloads/presentations/griffin.pdf
13 Viessman, W., & Hammer, M. (2005). Water Supply and Pollution Control. 7th edition, Pearson
Prentice Hall, New Jersey US, pp. 287
14 Agarwal, S.K. (2005), Op. cit. pp. 247

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

6.2 E. coli Infection: All the

strains of E.coli are harmless except
E. coli O157:H7 which causes mostly
diarrhoea and in rare cases causes
death in young and elderly.15

6.3 Legionellosis: It is caused by

Legionella pneumophila. Its severe
Figure 2: E.coli O157:H7
symptoms are fever, chills, Source:
http://www.biojobblog.com/Bacteria.jpg
pneumonia and occasionally
diarrhoea and vomiting.16

6.4 Leptospirosis: It is caused by Leptospira spp & affects human and

animals (mammals, birds, amphibious & reptiles). Its main target is liver,
kidney & CNS.17

7. THE MOST SERIOUS WATERBORNE BACTERIOLOGICAL

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

The most serious waterborne infectious diseases of Bacteria are

Diarrhoea, typhoid fever,
paratyphoid fever, cholera and
bacillary dysentery. All of these can
cause death if untreated.

7.1 DIARRHOEA:
Diarrhoea is the passing of
frequently & increased amounts of
loose stools. It is usually due to
consumption of drinking water
contaminated with bacteria. Figure 3: Diarrhoea symptoms in Children
Source:
http://www.medem.com/medem/images/ama/A
MA_Digestive_StomachAndOther_Lev20_Preve
15 Lerner, B.W., & Lerner, K.L. (2009). Environmental Science In Context. Volume1 & 2, Gale,
ntingDehydrationDiarrhea_JPP_01.gif
Cengage Learning, Farmington Hills, Michigan US, pp. 838-839
16 Pathogenic bacteria. (2009, October 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved,
November 7, 2009, fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Pathogenic_bacteria&oldid=322090607
17 Agarwal, S.K. (2005), Op. cit. pp. 246

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

Globally, 7 children die of diarrhoea every minute (3.6million per year),

mainly due to poor quality drinking water.18

Overall it contributes to the death of

about 6 million people of all ages
every year around the world. 19

Dehydration is a serious concern in

infants and the elderly. Therefore
bed rest is must for diarrhoea
patients and they should be treated
with oral (ORS for infants) or
intravenous intake of fluids
Figure 4: Frequent Bowls: Symptom of
containing sugar and salts. It Diarrhoea
Source:
normally goes away by itself within a http://tell.fll.purdue.edu/JapanProj/FLClipart/M
edical/diarrhea.gif
week. But if become persistent then
patient should be diagnosed for serious bacterial infections.20

7.2 TYPHOID FEVER

It is acute infectious disease of digestive system and is caused by the

typhoid bacillus Salmonella typhi.21

It is only found in humans (feces). It is a

Systemic disease i.e. Spreads throughout body,
found in blood, urine and feces.22

7.2.1 Symptoms: Symptoms usually develop

1–3 weeks after exposure, and may be mild or Figure 5: Salmonella Typhi
Source:
severe. Primary Symptoms are chills, fever and http://homepage.usask.ca/~vim
458/virology/studpages2007/Cha
prostration. These symptoms are later on d_Jan_Amy/salmonella.jpg

18 Diarrhea. (Oct 2009). Reconstruction of Your Health. Retrieved, October 27, 2009, from
http://reconstruisonsnotreparti.org/diarrhea/diarrhea/index.html
19 Diarrhea the leading cause of death among the developing world's children. (August
2004). News-Medical.Net. Retrieved, October 27, 2009, from http://www.news-
medical.net/news/2004/08/23/4270.aspx
20 "Diarrhea." Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008.
21 Khopkar, S.M. (2004), Op. cit. pp. 229

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

accompanied by secondary symptoms like headache, cough, vomiting,

diarrhoea and rose-coloured spots on the chest.23

In about 20 % of untreated cases the disease progresses to inflammation

of the gallbladder, heart failure, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, encephalitis,
meningitis, intestinal haemorrhage, and even death.24

7.2.2 Means of spreading: Most epidemics of typhoid fever

have been caused by the pollution of public water supplies by faeces of
typhoid victims or of carriers. Human are the only reservoir for salmonella
typhi.25

Incubation period of Salmonella Typhi in human body is from one to three

weeks. Bacteria collect in the small intestine and then enter blood stream.
Persistent fever develops and gradually rises, usually in a stepwise
fashion, reaching a peak of 103 or 104 °F after 7–10 days.26

Duration of Typhoid fever is 3-4 weeks with treatment & can exceed
without treatment.27

7.2.3 Mortality Rate: There are annually more than 16 million cases of
typhoid fever globally which if untreated, will cause death of the 20 %
patients. This death percentage reduces to almost 1% if this disease is
properly treated. It is still common in Third World countries.28

7.2.4 Prevention and Treatment: Typhoid fever can be avoided if

public water supply is inspected periodically and proper disinfection is
carried out. For the treatment of typhoid fever antibiotics like

22 typhoid fever. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved November 07, 2009, from
Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/611776/typhoid-fever
23 Nollet, L.M. (2007). A Handbook of Water Analysis. 2nd edition, CRC Press Boca Raton Florida,
pp. 100
24 typhoid fever. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved November 07, 2009, from
Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/611776/typhoid-fever
25 Nollet, L.M. (2007), Op. cit.
26 typhoid fever. (2009), Op. cit.
27 Ibid
28 Morgan, Herbert R. "Typhoid Fever." Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA:
Microsoft Corporation, 2008.

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

Ciprofloxacin and Ceftriaxone are currently used. These antibiotics

reduce the intensity of disease and check the life cycle of Salmonella
Typhi.29

7.3 PARATYPHOID FEVER

It is similar to typhoid fever but less severe & shorter duration. It is caused
by a Bacteria Salmonella Paratyphi.30

7.3.1 Symptoms: its Symptoms are sustained fever, headache,

constipation, depression, anorexia (loss of appetite), a non productive
cough (dry), a relative slow heart rate, and an enlargement of the liver or
spleen.31

7.3.2 Means of spreading: It spreads through water and food

contaminated by faeces of paratyphoid victims.32

7.3.3 Mortality Rate: There are annually 16 million cases of paratyphoid

fever, which result in about 25,000 deaths worldwide.

7.3.4 Treatment: For treating this disease antibiotics Ciprofloxacin

should be used for 10 days or Ceftriaxone/Cefotaxime for 14 days.33

7.4 CHOLERA

29 typhoid fever. (2009), Op. cit.

30 Typhoid. (August 2000). World Health Organization. Retrieved, October 25, 2009, from
http://www.who.int/immunization/topics/typhoid/en/index.html
31 Paratyphoid fever. (2009, October 24). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved,
November 7, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Paratyphoid_fever&oldid=321849192
32 Ibid
33 Ibid

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

It is an acute infection of the small intestine caused by the bacterium

Vibrio cholerae.34

It is characterized by extreme diarrhoea with rapid and severe depletion

of body fluids and salts. Cholera has often risen to epidemic proportions in
sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia,
Figure 6: Vibrio Cholerae
particularly in India and Bangladesh. 35
Source:
http://www.emi.unsw.edu.au/~lanl
ab/public/pics/vibrio_cholerae2.jpg
7.4.1 Symptoms: Its common symptoms are
diarrhoea and the loss of water & Salts in the stool usually 12-20 litters of
fluid is loss per day, feeling of extreme thirst, dry tongue, blood pressure
fall, hollow and sunken eyes and wrinkled skin.36

7.4.2 Means of spreading: Seriously ill patients are highly effective

transmitters of cholera, but persons with mild or no symptoms are more
likely to travel, thereby also playing a crucial role in the spread of the
disease. It spreads by the faecal–oral route: infection spreads through a
population when faeces containing the bacterium contaminate water that
is then ingested by individuals. Transmission of the disease can also occur
with food that has been irrigated, washed, or cooked with contaminated
water.37

7.4.3 Severe Cases: In severe cases aforementioned symptoms are

followed by violent diarrhoea with characteristic “rice-water stools”,
vomiting, severe muscles cramps, and sometimes circulatory collapse.38

7.4.4 Mortality Rate: Death can occur as quickly as a few hours after
the onset of symptoms especially in infants. The mortality rate is more
than 50% in untreated cases which falls to
less than 1% with proper treatment.39

34 Khopkar, S.M. (2004), Op. cit., pp. 229

35 cholera. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved November 07, 2009, from
Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/114078/cholera
36 cholera. (2009), Op. cit.
37 cholera. (2009), Op. cit.
38 Agarwal, S.K. (2005), Op. cit., pp. 246
39 Abramowicz, Mark. "Cholera." Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft
Corporation, 2008.

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

7.4.5 Prevention: At community level disinfection of drinking water

should be carried and at household level water should be boiled before
use.

7.4.6 Treatment: First of all there should

Figure 7: Boil Water before Drinking
be intravenous or oral replacement of fluids Source:
http://images.clipartof.com/small/14
and salts containing correct mixture of 157-Hot-Water-Boiling-In-A-Pot-
Food-Clipart-Illustration.jpg
sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate,
and glucose. Along with this, Antibiotics such as Tetracyclines, Ampicillin,
Chloramphenicol, or Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole should be used
which can shorten the duration of the disease. A vaccine made from killed
bacteria is commercially available and offers partial protection for a period
of three to six months after immunization. Patient may be recovered from
this disease within three to six days with proper treatment.40

7.5 BACILLARY DYSENTERY/SHIGELLOSIS/BLOODY FLUX:

It is an Acute or chronic disease of the large intestine of humans.

Causative agent for this disease is a bacterium of genus shigella (rod
shaped bacilli).41

7.5.1 Symptoms: After an incubation period

of one to six days, the disease has an abrupt
onset with fever and the frequent production of
watery stools that may contain blood & mucus.
Vomiting may also occur, and dehydration soon
becomes obvious owing to the abundant loss of
bodily fluids. These symptoms are usually
Figure 8: Severe Abdominal
accompanied by severe abdominal cramps Cramps
http://www.stanford.edu/class/hu
(marorh) and Ulceration of the walls of the mbio103/ParaSites2006/Cryptospo
ridiosis/Images/stomach-ache.gif
intestine.42

40 Abramowicz, Mark. (2009), Op. cit.

41 Khopkar, S.M. (2004), Op. cit., pp. 229

42 dysentery. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved November 07, 2009,

from Encyclopædia Britannica Online:

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

7.5.2 Means of spreading: the disease can be transmitted through fecal

oral contact i.e. consuming water, milk and food contaminated with

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

Shigella bacteria from the stools of active patient or carrier.43

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

Sporadic outbreaks are common in all parts of the world but most

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

prevalent in unhygienic areas of tropics.44

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

7.5.3 Mortality Rate: There are 165 million cases of

severe dysentery and more than 1 million deaths each year, mostly in

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

children in the developing world.45

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

Bacillary dysentery normally resolves within 4 -8 days without antibiotics

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

but the severe cases may last 3-6 weeks.46

7.5.4 Prevention and Treatment: It is usually self-limiting requiring no

antibiotics however Intravenous or oral replacement of fluids and salts is

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

necessary. In severe cases Chloramphenicol, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

are used which also effective against Shigella infection.47

8. RECENT OUTBREAK OF BACTERIOLOGICAL INFECTIOUS

DISEASE IN PAKISTAN:

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

Thursday, September 17, 2009. Cholera has broken out in southern

District Karak of NWFP, Geo News reported Thursday. Dozens of affected

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

people have been brought to the local hospitals.48

9. DETECTION & MEASUREMENT OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIA IN

WATER

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

Human feces always contain high

numbers of E.coli. Because of their fecal

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

origin Escherichia Coli bacteria are used as indicator for other pathogenic

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

micro organisms in water.49

They can be detected through Multiple Tube Fermentation (MTF) method

& Membrane filter Methods. Membrane filter method is widely used

Figure 9: Counting Bacterial Colonies

on Membrane filter
Source:
http://www.friendsofperdidobay.com/pl
ate%208-16-05.jpg

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

because it gives results in less time and is relatively more accurate as

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

compared to MTF method.50

Its procedure is that 100ml water is filtered through special filter papers
with a pore size less then the size of bacteria and some culture media is
added to it for optimum growth of bacteria. Filter paper is incubated for 24
hours at 44C. At this temperature only faecal Coliform bacteria will grow.
After 24 hours filter paper is checked for any bacteria colony growth. The

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

bacteria colonies will appear in a particular colour and are counted as CFU

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

(colony-forming units per 100ml).51

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

The WHO standard for Faecal Coliform Bacteria in Drinking water is Zero

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

colonies per 100ml of water sample.52

10. AVOIDING WATERBORNE BACTERIOLOGICAL EPIDEMIC

DISEASES

Precautionary measures should be taken to avoid bacteriological

waterborne diseases. These measures include Proper inspection of water

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

supply system and Analysis of drinking water for detection of active

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

pathological bacterial presence.53

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

Proper disinfection i.e. chlorination, ozonation and ultraviolet treatment

etc should be carried out periodically if there is a continuous source of

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

contamination.54

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

Figure 10: Disinfection by Ultra

Violet Rays
Source:
http://img.alibaba.com/photo/1116
1513/UV_700_Water_Disinfection_S
ystem.jpg

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

11. TREATMENT OF THE ACTIVE PATIENTS AND CARRIERS

Old cases should be diagnosed for carrying pathogenic bacteria. Fluid loss
should be overcome by Intravenous or oral replacement of fluids and

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

salts. Prescribed antibiotics and proper vaccination/immunization should

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

be used (if travelling).56

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

The bacteria have their life cycle and have to complete it. After its
completion they repeat their life

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

cycle.57
Antibiotics limit its intensity and prevent their 2nd life cycle. Bed rest is

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

must for the patient.58

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

Vaccination/immunization offers
Figure 11: Diagnosis, Bed Rest & Proper
partial protection for some Antibiotics
Source:
http://www.houstonstatmedical.com/images/hospi
tal_bed.jpg

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

specific period.59

12. CONCLUSION

Water is the backbone of all forms of life on earth but is contaminated

thoroughly with pathogenic bacteria of faecal origin. This discussion leads
us to conclude that water pollution is always a threat to human health but
especially when it is polluted with pathogenic bacteria of faecal origin.
These pathogenic bacteria cause infectious epidemic disease and cause a
great death toll worldwide annually. The most vulnerable to these
diseases are elderly and infants. The contaminated water needs to be
disinfected to avoid spreading of these diseases.

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Bacteriological Water Pollution & Health Effects

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books

Viessman, W., & Hammer, M. (2005). Water Supply and Pollution Control.
7th edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, New Jersey US.

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