Affiliations: Department of Biotechnology K.V.M. College of
Engineering and Information Technology Kokkothamangalam P.O.
Cherthala–688583, Alappuzha District, Kerala State, India
Abstract: Microbial flora of water plays a major role in determining quality
of potable water. In the present study a comparative analysis is carried out on
the microbial population of drinking water samples from wells and municipal
water collected from eight locations of Cherthala taluk, Kerala state, for the
presence of coliforms, Vibrio cholerae and Salmonella typhi in two different
seasons, i.e., summer and monsoon. The pH of the water samples collected ranged
from 6.3 to 6.8. The results showed that in summer, 87.5% of the total samples
were positive for E.coli, 87.5% positive for Salmonella typhi and 25% positive
for Vibrio cholerae among tap water samples, and in well water 62.5% of the
total samples were positive for E.coli, 37.5% positive for Salmonella typhi and
12.5% positive for Vibrio cholerae. In contrast, during monsoon, among well
water samples only 37.5% of the total samples were positive for E.coli, 12.5%
positive for Salmonella typhi and Vibrio cholerae were absent. Among tap water
samples in monsoon only 12.5% of the total samples were positive for E.coli,
25% positive for Salmonella typhi and Vibrio cholerae were absent.
