Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

MICROBIOLOGICAL STATUS OF DRINKING WATER SERVED IN VARIOUS HOTELS OF MADURAI CITY, INDIA

P. Manonmani and D. Helen Christina

Abstract

Drinking Water samples collected from thirty Hotels of Madurai City in two different seasons, Winter and summer were examined for their microbiological quality. The samples were examined for Total Viable Count (TVC), Total Coliforms (TC), Faecal Coliforms (FC), Faecal Streptococci (FS) and presence of Staphylococci. In all the samples Total Viable organisms Showed higher count in both Collection I and II. Occurrence of Total Colifoms Showed marked fluctuation in all the samples. Faecal Coliform number ranged between 0 and 39 C.F.U/I 00 ml. There was a complete absence of Total Coliforms and faecal Coliforms in samples A4 and A5 (Collection I) and A5 and A6 (Collection II). However, in all the other samples the Total viable Count and Faecal Coliforms number exceeded the acceptable range recommended by WHO and Ministry of Works and Housing, Government of India. The Occurrence of Faecal Coliforms in more than 87.7% indicated that the contamination is of External and of Faecal origin. Few recommendations practicable in the Hotel Environment to reduce such amounts of contamination were also discussed.