MICROBIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY OF THREE DIFFERENT RIVERS IN KOSOVA

The main objective of this study was to determine the microbiological water quality, the number of total coliform (TC) bacteria, fecal coliform (FC) bacteria, the total number of live bacteria (LB) and fecal streptococci (FS) analyzed from different Kosovo rivers. Water samples were collected during March-October 2013-2014 according to ISO 5667-5:2000 methods. The samples were taken alongside Sitnica, Lepenci and Lumbardhi i Prizrenit rivers, located in three different parts of Kosovo. Our analysis revealed that the total coliform bacteria (TC) in 100 ml of water was 44 (CFU/44 colonies/100 ml of water sample) in Sitnica river, 34 (CFU/30 colonies/100 ml of water sample) in Lumbardhi i Prizrenit river, and 21 (CFU/20 colonies/100 ml of water sample) in Lepenci river. The number of FC, in 100 ml of water was zero 0 (CFU/0 colonies/100 ml of water sample) in Sitnica, Lumbardhi i Prizrenit and Lepenci rivers. The number of FS in 100 ml of water was 33 (CFU 33 colonies / 100 ml of water sample) in Sitnica river, 25 (CFU 25 colonies/100 ml of water sample) in Lumbardhi i Prizrenit river and 18 (CFU 18 colonies/100 ml of water sample) in Lepenci river. The total number of LB in 100 ml of water was > 300 (CFU > 300 colonies/100 ml of water sample) in Sitnica river, 260 (CFU 260 colonies/100 ml of water sample) in Lumbardhi i Prizrenit river and 230 (CFU 230 colonies /100 ml of water sample) in Lepenci river. The lower number of total coliform (TC) and fecal streptococci (FS) bacteria and lack fecal coliform (FC) bacteria shows water purity of these rivers according to microbiological aspect, even though the total number of live bacteria (LB) are higher than the international level (CFU 300 colonies / 100 ml of water sample) this may be due to waste collector, especially in the Sitnica river.