A Study on Microbiological and Chemical Quality of water of Kathmandu

Abstract

The study assessed the water quality of Kathmandu, water samples were taken from seven different sources for bacteriological investigation and analyzed for their Bacterial count and coliform count. Water samples were collected from various sources such as river water, tank water, tap water etc. In this study, all the water samples showed the growth of coliformbacteria and Salmonella species. The highest bacterial count was found to be 6.4X10 CFU/ml insample S 6 (River water sample) and lowest bacterial count was found to be 3.0X10 CFU/ml in sample S (Kuleshwor tap water). Similarly, the highest coliformcount was 1100 CFU/ml in sample S 5 and lowest coliform count was found to be 500CFU/ml in sample S 3 6 (Sundharighat Tank). Chemical analysis shows that the pH of all the collected samples was found to bewithin the limit of WHO guidelines (7.0-8.5). Other parameters like total hardness,BOD and Sulphates concentrations were found to be below the WHO guidelines where as chloride contents exceeds the limit in five samples. The result and analysis of this study on chemical and microbiological quality of samples from different water source shows that coliforms were present. Hence, all the water samples were microbiologically unsafe for drinking and need treatment.