This study was conducted to assess the bacteriological quality of alternative drinking water supply options in southwest coastal areas of Bangladesh. A total of 90 water samples were collected during both dry and wet seasons from household based rainwater harvesting systems (RWHSs), community based rain water harvesting systems (CRWHSs), pond-sand filters (PSFs) and ponds. The samples were evaluated for faecal coliform, Escherichia coli and Heterotrophic Plate Count, as well as Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Physico-chemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, and color) were also examined. In addition, sanitary inspections were conducted to identify faecal contamination sources. All options showed varying degrees of indicator bacterial contamination. The median E. coli concentrations measured for RWHSs, CRWHSs, PSFs, and ponds were 16, 7, 11, and 488 cfu/100 ml during the wet season, respectively. Vibrio cholerae O1/O139, Salmonella and Shigella spp. were not found in any samples. However, Vibrio cholerae Non-O1/Non-O139 and Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from 74.4% and 91.1% of the water samples collected during the wet season. A maximum pH of 10.4 was found in CRWHSs. Estimation of the disease burden for all options in disability adjusted life years (DALYs) showed an increased disease burden during the wet season. According to sanitary inspections, poor maintenance and unprotected ponds were responsible for rainwater and PSF water contamination, respectively. The findings of the present study suggest that alternative drinking water supply options available in southwest coastal Bangladesh pose a substantial risk to public health.
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Research Article|
April 18 2011
Bacteriological assessment of drinking water supply options in coastal areas of Bangladesh
Md. Atikul Islam;
Md. Atikul Islam
1Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamaguchi University, 2-16-1 Tokiwadai, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8611, Japan and Environmental Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh
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Hiroyuki Sakakibara;
2Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamaguchi University, 2-16-1 Tokiwadai, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8611, Japan
E-mail: [email protected]
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Md. Rezaul Karim;
Md. Rezaul Karim
3Department of Civil Engineering, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Khulna, Bangladesh
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Masahiko Sekine;
Masahiko Sekine
2Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamaguchi University, 2-16-1 Tokiwadai, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8611, Japan
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Zahid Hayat Mahmud
Zahid Hayat Mahmud
4Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
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J Water Health (2011) 9 (2): 415–428.
Article history
Received:
June 16 2010
Accepted:
January 05 2011
Citation
Md. Atikul Islam, Hiroyuki Sakakibara, Md. Rezaul Karim, Masahiko Sekine, Zahid Hayat Mahmud; Bacteriological assessment of drinking water supply options in coastal areas of Bangladesh. J Water Health 1 June 2011; 9 (2): 415–428. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2011.114
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