ESSENTIAL ASPECTS OF WATER SAFETY: A CASE STUDY ON ROAD SIDE HAWKERS IN DELHI, INDIA

Abstract

Drinking water quality assessment in Delhi region has always been crucial with reference to public health importance. A study was conducted to evaluate the quality of drinking water sold by roadside hawkers. A total number of thirty one samples from different locations of suburb of Delhi were studied for microbiological parameters comprising total bacterial count, detection of yeast & mould, coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The samples were found to be contaminated with total bacterial count in the range of 10²-10⁷ cfu per ml. However, the frequency of occurrence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was 61%, 32% for Vibrio cholerae, 100 % for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 35% for Staphylococcus aureus, 29% for Escherichia coli and Salmonella 13%. Out of all 31 drinking water samples collected from roadside hawker no sample was free from bacteria. All the samples were found to be contaminated with yeast and mould where as the pathogenic bacteria causing cholera, diarrhea showed the maximum occurrence in water samples. The data suggested that the drinking water quality deterioration in Delhi suburb was due to poor sanitation and unawareness personal about personal hygienic practices.

Key words: Water Quality, Bacterial Contamination, Waterborne Disease, Drinking Water and Delhi region.