Abstract: An attempt was made to delineate fluoride and identify bacterial diversity in the drinking water sources of 27 Mandal Parishads of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Fourteen water samples of groundwater and thirteen samples of surface water were collected and analysed for fluoride concentration as well as bacterial diversity. Results revealed that 57.14% of the groundwater samples had a fluoride concentration over the permissible limit, whereas 15.38% of surface water samples crossed the permissible limit. Bacterial species predominantly found in the groundwater samples are Bacillus subtilis whose presence seemed more in Dornipadu (DOR), Pamulapadu (PPU), Nandavaram (NDV) and Kosigi (KOS). Exiguobacterium sp. prevailed much in Chagalamarri (CHA), Midthur (MID), Jupadu Bungalow (JBW) and Gonegandla (GON). Acinetobacter sp. is rich in Allagadda (ALG) and Atmakur (ATK). Chryseobacterium sp. dominated in Orvakal (ORV); Pagidyala (PGA) had more concentrations of Staphylococcus warneri and Kolimigundla (KOL) had reported high levels of Aeromonas punctate. Surface water samples possess predominant bacterial species, Bacillus subtilis dominated in Uyyalawada (UYY), Sanjamala (SAN), Banaganapalle (BPL) and Mantralayam (MAN). Exiguobacterium sp was abundant in Koilkuntla (KOI), Kowthalam (KOW) and Pattikonda (PAT). Bergeyella sp. reported high in Gadivemula (GAD). Pantoea sp. was more in Yemmiganur (YMG); Aspari (ASP) was rich in Kocuria marina; Acinetobacter junii dominant in Devanakonda (DKD). Paracoccus sigandrium prevailed more in Owk.
Keywords: Bacterial diversity, fluoride delineation, groundwater, surface water
