Abstract

TREATMENT OF CHLORINE RESISTANT BACTERIA PRESENT IN DRINKING WATER SYSTEM BY USING OZONE

Gauri S. Devasthale*, Vaishali S. Prabhune, Amrita M. Bhatia, Heena Momin and
Batul Kachwala

Abstract

Life as we know could not have evolved without water and we wouldhave died without it. Water consists of two hydrogen atoms attached toan oxygen atom which ideally fit into the requirements for carbonbasedlife. The quality of water equally matters for survival,consumption and health related problems. If water quality is poor it cantransmit several water borne diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, typhoidand filariasis. The water system needs to be monitored for presence ofwide variety of contaminants and water borne bacterial pathogens likeEscherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter jejuni. Viruseslike hepatitis A, enteroviruses, polio virus, rotavirus and parasites suchas Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba are also common contaminants ofwater. Contaminated water can be treated using chlorine which is aconventional method of disinfecting drinking water. However the problem is with eliminatingthe chlorine resistant pathogenic microorganisms like Staphylococci, Enterococci, Bacillus,etc which are present in drinking water. The aim was to eliminate the chlorine resistantbacteria present in drinking water system. Fifty drinking water samples were collected fromin and around Pune district to check the presence of chlorine resistant bacteria.Bacteriological tests (MPN test) for potability of drinking water were performed. The isolatedmicroorganisms were characterized by colony morphology, Gram staining, motility andbiochemical tests. Those isolates which showed resistance to chlorine were then treated withalternative water disinfection method i.e. Ozone (using OTEEN-4E Ozonator). Ozonetreatment showed more effective results by inhibiting the growth of chlorine resistantbacteria.

Keywords: Pathogens, Chlorine resistant, Ozonator.