Investigation of Microbial Quality of Drinking Water in Takab Rural Areas

Given the importance of the microbial quality of drinking water and the fact that no comprehensive, analytical study of the microbial quality of drinking water in the Takab rural areas has been reported, this descriptive case study was conducted in the summer and fall 2012 to investigate the microbial quality of drinking water in the study area. The microbial parameters studied included total coliform (TC) and E. coli using the 9-tube fermentation technique and HPC. It was found that the drinking water sampled from 50% of the rural areas not served by the water supply network exhibited coliform and E.coli coliform contaminations while 11.9% of the samples collected from areas served by the water supply network showed coliform contamination and 9.5% exhibited E.coli contamination. The rural populations with access to clean, coliform-free water in areas both served and not served by the public water supply network were 88.4% and 27.5%, respectively, and 85% of the population in all the villages investigated had access to such clean water. Those having access to drinking water free from E.coli were 96.4%, 27.5%, and 91%, respectively, in the three groups mentioned above. Based on HPC test results from these areas, revealed that HPC≥500 in all cases was zero. The latest WHO guidelines recognized 90% E.coli-free drinking water as excellent for communities with populations less than 5,000 provided sufficient samples are taken. Based on the results obtained from this study, the microbial quality of the drinking water in rural areas in TAKAB is desirable but lower than the Iranian standard.