Abstract
Microbial flora of water plays a major role in determining quality of potable water. In the present study a comparative analysis is carried out on the microbial population of drinking water samples from wells and municipal water collected from eight locations of Cherthala taluk, Kerala state, for the presence of coliforms, Vibrio cholerae and Salmonella typhi in two different seasons, i.e., summer and monsoon. The pH of the water samples collected ranged from 6.3 to 6.8. The results showed that in summer, 87.5% of the total samples were positive for E.coli, 87.5% positive for Salmonella typhi and 25% positive for Vibrio cholerae among tap water samples, and in well water 62.5% of the total samples were positive for E.coli, 37.5% positive for Salmonella typhi and 12.5% positive for Vibrio cholerae. In contrast, during monsoon, among well water samples only 37.5% of the total samples were positive for E.coli, 12.5% positive for Salmonella typhi and Vibrio cholerae were absent. Among tap water samples in monsoon only 12.5% of the total samples were positive for E.coli, 25% positive for Salmonella typhi and Vibrio cholerae were absent.
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