Open AccessAnalysis of heavy metals and coliform in samples of drinking water collected from municipal ward offices of western suburbs of Mumbai, India
Author(s) -
G. V. Zodape
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environment conservation journal/environment conservation journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2278-5124
pISSN - 0972-3099
DOI - 10.36953/ecj.2014.151214
Subject(s) - contamination , fecal coliform , environmental chemistry , potable water , heavy metals , chemistry , tap water , contaminated water , coliform bacteria , environmental science , environmental engineering , water quality , bacteria , biology , ecology , genetics
14 drinking water samples were collected from Vile Parle to Dadar of Suburban’s of (P-South ward offices of B.M.C (Bombay Municipal Corporation) Mumbai in the month from June to December 2012. The samples of drinking-water were analyzed for Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, As, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd and Hg. From the results so obtained, the contamination due to heavy metals – Zn (3.115 ppm and 7.816 ppm), Mn (3.115 ppm and 7.426 ppm), Fe (1.124 ppm and 2.872 ppm), As (0.011 ppm to 0.091 ppm), Cr (0.188 ppm and 0.998 ppm ), Pb (1.587 ppm and 4.56 ppm) and Cd (0.011 ppm and 0.051 ppm ) was found to be high whereas the contamination due to Cu (0.012 ppm and 0.313 ppm), Ni (0.126 ppm and 0.774 ppm), were found below the acceptable limits and no Hg was detected in the samples of drinking-water. In the present work, MacConkey Broth was used as a differential medium for detection and enumeration of coliforms from a wide variety water samples. The presence of positive doubtful presumptive test immediately suggests that the water is non potable (i.e., both acid and gas develops in a tube after 48 hours incubation). Confirmation suggests that there is fecal contamination in the water under investigation and hence it is non potable. All the fourteen samples (streaked from positive Ma cConkey broth tubes) were found to be contaminated with E. coli, which was further confirmed by the presence of colonies with green metallic sheen observed under a microscope confirmed that the said samples were contaminated with E. coli - the major indicator of fecal contamination.