ASSESSMENT OF DRINKING WATER QUALITY AND ASSOCIATED HEALTH RISKS AMONG RESIDENTS IN A COSMOPOLITAN CITY OF PAKISTAN.

JPUMHS;2024:14:01,10-14. http://doi.org/10.46536/jpumhs/2024/14.01.487

Abstract

ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Lahore is a congested metropolitan area in the Punjab province, and large segments
of its population obtain drinking water from various sources. The drinking water quality is not addressed
according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. Thus, it becomes imperative to
analyze this city's drinking water quality. Bacterial contamination of drinking water, notably from
enteric microorganisms, has shown alarming health effects such as bacillary dysentery, Typhoid,
Hepatitis A & E, Poliomyelitis, gastroenteritis (commonly termed food poisoning), etc. The primary
purpose of this study is to analyze and detect the presence of fecal coliform bacteria in drinking water
samples obtained from different areas. METHOD: The sampling locations were conveniently selected
from 20 regions of Lahore. The samples were transported to the lab in specific ice boxes within 4-6
hours of the collection. Testing for fecal coliforms employed inoculation of EMB agar (Eosin Methylene
Blue Agar), followed by incubation at 44.5 °C for 24 hours. Samples free from fecal coliforms were
labeled as FFC (fit for consumption), whereas the samples detected for the presence of coliforms were
labeled as NFFC (not fit for consumption). RESULTS: A total of 457 samples were collected and
analyzed for the presence of fecal coliforms from December 2022 till August 2023. Among these, 53.5%
water samples were found to be fit for human consumption (FFC), whereas, 46.5% were not suitable
for consumption (NFFC). CONCLUSION: The current study identified that half of the population
consume unsafe water, hence vulnerable to waterborne diseases. A higher percentage of contamination
was reported in densely populated and less privileged city areas