Research Journal of Recent Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 323-325 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci.

Short Communication

Microbiological analysis of surface water in Indore, India
Sohani Smruti and Iqbal Sanjeeda
Department of Botany, Holkar Science College, Indore, INDIA

Available online at: www.isca.in
(Received 18th October 2011, revised7th January 2012 , accepted 24th January 2012)

Abstract
Water borne bacterial pathogens were isolated from surface waters in Indore, India. The bacterial pathogenic organisms can cause
intestinal infections, dysentery, typhoid fever, cholera, and other illnesses. The paper discusses results of bacteriological analysis
done on various water samples taken from different sources in Indore. The water samples collected from different regions of Indore
were found to have significant impurities, considerable deterioration and remarkable variation. In the bacteriological analysis,
colliform group of bacteria are differentiated by the presumptive test, confirmed test and completed test. After performing these
tests Gram negative, were non spore forming and rod shaped bacteria having metallic shine or pink with dark centerd colonies on
EMB agar indicated positive results. The isolates were characterized and identified as E.coli, Enterobacter, Klebsilla, salmonella
and Shigella. The study therefore, stresses on the need to control the fecal pollution of water bodies.
Keywords: E.coli, enterobacter, salmonella and shigella, presumptive test, eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar.

Introduction
Water is one of the most essential needs for the continued
existence of all living organisms on earth. The day-to-day
activities of all living organisms require water in some form.
It is effectively and efficiently put into use by plants,
animals, microorganisms and man. In the microbial world, no
single microorganism has been discovered to be active at the
extreme lack of water for the singular reason that man cannot
exist without water, it is of paramount importance to monitor
domestic water supply1.
Water plays an essential role in human life. Although
statistics vary, as the World Health Organization (WHO)
reports that approximately 36% of urban and 65% of rural
Indian’s were without access to safe drinking water 2.
Normally water is mainly used for domestic purposes
especially for drinking. All living organisms require a wide
variety of inorganic compounds for growth, repair,
maintenance and reproduction3. Water is one of the most
important, as well as one of the most abundant of those
compounds and it is particularly, vital to living organisms4.
In addition, water has been traced to be one of the ways by,
which humans could be infected with various kinds of
diseases. Some water borne diseases include typhoid fever,
cholera, & bacillary dysentery. In waterborne infections,
pathogens are usually spread by water contamination with
untreated or poorly treated sewage5.
In many developing countries, availability of water has
become a critical and urgent problem and it is a matter of
great concern to families and communities depending on
International Science Congress Association

non-public water supply system6. Increase in human
population exerts an enormous pressure on the provision of
safe drinking water especially in developing countries7.
Water in nature is seldom totally pure. Rainfall is
contaminated as it falls to earth, the combustion of fossil fuel
put sulphur compound responsible for acid precipitation in
the air. Water that moves below the ground’s surface
undergoes filtration that removes most organisms8. For this
reason, water from springs and deep wells are generally of
good quality.
The most dangerous form of water pollution occurs when
fecal contaminant like Escherichia coli enter the water
supply. Contaminants ingested into water supply cause many
diseases. Examples of such pathogens are Salmonella spp,
Shigella spp, Vibrio cholerae and E. coli4.
The bacteriological quality of drinking water is of paramount
importance and monitoring must be given highest priority9.
This is so because studies have attributed several disease
outbreaks to untreated or poorly treated water containing
bacterial pathogens that have been isolated from surface
water in around Indore.

Material and Methods
Collection of samples: Sampling was according to the
procedure recommended by American Public Health
Association10. Water samples were collected for
Bacteriological analysis. Samples were collected in sterile
container, which is immediately covered tightly after
collection of water samples and transported to the laboratory.
323

Research Journal of Recent Sciences ____________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 323-325 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci
Around Indore two lakes are present as sources of water
supply in the city, Billawalli Pond (B) and Sirpur Talab(S).
Two sampling sites (BR, BF and SR, SF) of each sampling
station were selected. Samples were collected as raw water
(Before Treatment) and after filtration and chlorination from
all the sources. R- Raw water; F- Filtered water
Bacteriological analysis: The most probable number (MPN)
technique was used to determine the fecal coliform counts of
the water samples10. This involved the presumptive test using
lactose broth and Nutrient agar, confirmatory test using
lactose broth and completed test using eosin methylene blue
(EMB) agar. Pure colonies of the isolates were subjected to
motility-indole-urease test, methyl red-voges-proskauer
(MRVP) test and citrate utilization agar tests. Enteric bacteria
isolates were confirmed from the biochemical tests (IMViC
test).

Conclusion
This study concluded that water quality distributed at Indore
need more effort in limiting the numbers of microbial
organisms released into distribution systems. The use of
contaminated water can in drinking expose human body to
various water borne diseases hence water treatment and
improving quality of water before drinking is required. It is
recommended that effective management and maintenance
are required in order to minimize acute problem of water
related diseases, which are endemic to the health of man.
This research also demonstrated the importance of education
for the consumers who use individual supplies for their
drinking water. Much needs to be done to increase awareness
of the hazard of drinking contaminated water and of ways to
prevent contamination.

Acknowledgment
Results and Discussion
Gram negative enteric bacteria were isolated from all water
samples. Rate of growth of isolates decreased as the
temperature was increased. The temperatures were taken for
studies as 40, 50, 60 and 70°C. The tube and plates were
incubated at 44.5°C for 24 to 48 hrs. Gas and turbidity in the
tubes were shown the metallic sheen or pink color of
colonies with dark centre on EMB agar found positive. All
isolates that produced gas at 44.5°C, were found Gram
negative, non spore forming and rod-shaped belonging to
fecal coliform group. The counts calculated according to
standard probability table9. All water samples using the
tryptone broth enrichment (TBe) and high temperature
(37°C) incubation methods, followed by plating for isolation
on EMB agar.
The isolates were initially differentiated on the basics of the
cultural and morphological studies after which they were
subjected to IMViC biochemical test (table 1 and 2). All the
water samples were contaminated with E.coli, Enterobacter,
Klebsilla, salmonella and Shigella. These bacteria cause
water borne diseases like intestinal infections, dysentery,
typhoid fever, cholera, and other illnesses9. Treatment of
water by Municipal Corporation should be such that
impurities as well as removal of pathogenic organisms done
completely or minimize to such extent that it is should not be
hazer done to humans and animals.
Biochemical results shown by the tables that in the samples
of Billawali Pond (B) and Sirpur Talab (S) were not present
in raw water samples but they found in filtrated water
samples which high lights the contamination of water during
the supply system. It shows mixing of sewage water into
drinking water and concludes that the supply system of water
in Indore city is not perfect and should be monitored time to
time for reducing disease epidemics and other health hazards.

International Science Congress Association

Author gratefully acknowledges Dr. S. Gargh, Principal of
Holkar Science College Indore (M.P).

References
1.

Sofola T.O., Lawal M, Bacteriological analysis of water
samples from main tasps and domestic water storage
tanks in metropolinta Lagos Niger, Med. Pract, 6(3),
95-98, (1983)

2.

World Health Organization, Guidelines for Drinking
water quality, Volume 1: 3rd edition, WHO Press,
Switzerland (2009)

3.

Kondal R.Y., Analytic study and Microorganisms
present in rain water of different areas, Inter. j. Envir.
Sci., 2(1), (2011)

4.

Tortora J.G., Funke R.B., Case L.C., and Microbiology
an introduction Media update of 7 Edn. Including
bibliography and index publisher Daryl Fox, 258- 260
(2002)

5.

Yau J.T.S., Chemical and microbiological qualities of
The East River (Dongjiang) water, with particular
reference to drinking water supply in Hong Kong, Inter.
J.Micro 52(9), 1441–1450 (2003)

6.

Okonko Lo., Adejoye Od., Ogunnsi TA., Fajobi EA,
Shittu, Microbiological and physico chemical analysis
of driffent water sample used for domestic purpose in
Abeokuta and Ojota, Lagos stat Nigeria. Afr. J.
Biotechnol, 7(3), 617-621 (2008)

7.

Abraham W.R., Megacities as Sources for Pathogenic
Bacteria in Rivers, Inter. J.Micro. (2011)

324

Research Journal of Recent Sciences ____________________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 323-325 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci
8.

Saleem S., Kamili A.N., Isolation, identification and
seasonal distribution of bacteria in Dal Lake, Kashmir,
Inter. j. Envir. Sci., 2(1), 185 (2011)

9.

Bharti N. and Katyal D., Water quality indices used for
surface water vulnerability assessment, Inter. j. Envir.
Sci., 2(1), 154 (2011)

International Science Congress Association

10. APHA Standard method for the examination of water
and waste water 19th ed. American Public Health
Associations, Washington (1992)

325

