VPE 511: Environment and Environmental Hygiene (2+1)

EXERCISE-9: MICROBIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF WATER QUALITY

Enumeration of Escherichia coli in water

• E.coli causes variety of diseases in animals and human beings. Water is an important source for spread of E.coli.
• Two types of coliforms
  • Faecal
  • Nonfaecal coliforms
• The term coliform refers to a facultatively anaerobic organism that ferments lactose to produce gas and is also Gram negative and non spore forming.
• E.coli and Enterobacter perfectly fits into this group and Klebsiella moderately fits into this group. Presence of E.coli in water is an indication of faecal contamination.