Physicochemical and Microbiological Analysis of Consumable Water in Kolkata and Surrounding Areas

Debasree Ghosh; Rajashree Das

Abstract

The basic need of humans for their survival is food, water and air. Drinking water is said to be the most essential requirement for life available on Earth. The increase in population is one of the factors for the crisis of drinking water all over the state. This shortage of drinking water is due to the effects of pollution in the water samples such as mixing of sewage waters and throwing undesirable products in drinking water. The objective of the present study was to assess the quality of drinking water in Burdwan, Kolkata and Barrackpore areas along with microbial contamination, heavy metal (example: Fe, Cu, As, etc.) concentration etc. The experimental results showed high salinity approximately 0.26 in Kolkata as compared to 0.13 in Burdwan which indicated that drinking water is safe to consume in Burdwan areas as compared to Kolkata. Similarly the heavy metal analyses suggested that Fe, Zn and as concentration are higher in the drinking water of Kolkata and Barrackpore as compared to those of Burdwan. From microbiological analysis, consumable water had less Enterobacter sp. in Burdwan areas as compared to Kolkata and Barrackpore. According to the World Health Organisation, the drinking water should be hygienic in order to get rid from common waterborne diseases. Significance of water as a potent ecological factor can be appreciated only by studying its physicochemical and microbial characteristics.

Abstract

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