Impact of Urbanization on the Microbiological Quality of Ground Water - A Case Study of Visakhapatnam City, AP. India

Water is a vehicle for transfer the transfer of wide range of diseases of microbial origin. Ground water is a precious natural resource and is a source for drinking in many parts of the world. The current rate of groundwater extraction is depleting the resource faster than it is being recharged. Therefore understanding the basic processes about groundwater and the factors that are affecting its quality is of vital importance in managing this significant resource. In the present study 25 groundwater samples were collected from residential areas in Visakhapatnam and were analyzed for bacteriological quality with reference to the anthropogenic impact. It was critically observed that feacal coliform values determined from groundwater analysis were above the limits set by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and World health organization (WHO). The ratio of feacal coliform and the feacal streptococci indicated the higher anthropogenic impact on the ground water resources in terms of microbiological pollution. The existence of indicator bacteria in high amounts indicates the probable presence of pathogenic bacteria, such as important pathogens. So that it is necessary to disinfect the groundwater before human consumption.