¬¬Physico Chemical and Bacteriological Assessment of Potable Water of Agra and its Bioremediation

Abstract

Potable water contamination is a global problem that poses a significant threat to human health. Every year approx. 3,575,000 people die due to consumption of contaminated water. The present study was done to assess the potable water quality of Agra District, by analysing the physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters. A total of 216 water samples were collected seasonally (winter, monsoon, and summer) consecutively for two years from different zones of Agra. All physico-chemical parameters were analysed according APHA guidelines. For bacteriological assessment, the presence of indicator microbes i.e., E. coli. was inspected. The samples were enriched and analysed in differential and selective media, to obtain 435 isolates. These isolates were further characterized through Gram Staining, Motility Test, Citrate Test, Indole Test, Motility Test, Nitrate Test, MR-VP Test, Catalase Test, Lactose, Sorbitol Fermentation on MacConkey agar, screened on levin Eosin Methylene Blue agar medium and analysed spectrophotometrically at 600 nm for growth. Based on the results, 11 isolates presumed to be E. coli were further analysed using Molecular techniques. These isolates were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The 11 sequences obtained were analysed bioinformatically through NCBI-BLAST. All the 11 sequences were identified as unique and represent different strains, of Escherichia coli, Citrobacter amalonaticus and Citrobacter freundii. Obtained Unique Gene sequences were submitted to GenBank, NCBI, United States of America. Their accession numbers are ON259745, ON287271, ON303639, ON303640, ON303641, ON303642, ON303643, ON303644, ON303645, ON303646 and ON303647. They were phylogenetically analysed through CLUSTALW and Mega11. Pathogenicity of the isolates was tested on sheep blood. The susceptibility of these isolates was checked against 25 Antibiotics. With the observed challenging factors in sampled water, bioremediation techniques were implemented to counter them. Immobilization of probiotics Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus delbrueckii on coal was done and its antagonistic property was seen against pathogenic microbe. Extracts of Moringa oleifera and Tridax procumbens were used to bioremediate the physico-chemical contaminants. newline