Bacteriological Contamination in Different Drinking Water Sources of Katihar District and Its Health Impacts

Bacteria in our drinking water are one of the main sources of waterborne diseases all over the world. Our study was aimed to investigate the extent of bacterial contamination in different drinking water sources (Tubewell, Dugwell, Municipal supply, Railway supply and River Ganga. The potable quality of drinking water was assessed from some of the villages of four blocks (Katihar, Manihari, Amdabad and Barari block) of Katihar district. The experiment was conducted during March 2013 to Feb 2015. Total bacterial density was recorded higher in river Ganga water (0.89×107L-1 to 10.10×107L-1) followed by dugwell (0.56×107L-1 to 2.62×107L-1), municipal supply (0.18×107L-1 to 1.21×107L-1), tubewell (0.15×107L-1to 1.96×107L-1) and railway supply water (0.04×107L-1to 1.21×107L-1). Using MPN test the highest coliform count was (22 to 1612/100ml) inriver Ganga water and faecal coliform (00 to 395/100ml) in dugwell water. In the present investigation 13 bacterial species were identified. E. coli, S. faecalis, C. perfringens, P. vulgarisetc. were found almost in every water sources. Our study concludes that drinking water of river Ganga and dugwell was greatly contaminated with coliform and faecal coliform and major improvements on priority basis is essential