Prevalence of coliform bacteria in kodaikanal and yercaud lake, Tamilnadu, South India

Abstract

The present study deals with enumeration and seasonal distribution of total and faecal coliform bacteria, the indicators of faecal pollution of two lakes namely Kodaikanal and Yercaud lake, Tamilnadu, India was investigated. Water samples from 4 different sites from the lakes were collected during February 2003 to January 2004 and were analysed for total coliform count, faecal coliform count and faecal streptococci, which is an indicator organism of faecal contamination. The range of MPN 100 mL -1 for total coliform was found to be 46-50, 46-60 and 33-40, in Kodaikanal lake water and 94-140, 110-180 and 79-110 in Yercaud lake water in summer, monsoon and winter, respectively. In Kodaikanal lake the faecal coliform was in the range of 27-33 MPN 100 mL -1, 33-46 MPN 100 mL -1 and 17-27 MPN 100 mL -1 and in Yercaud lake it was 63-94 MPN 100 mL -1, 70-110 MPN 100 mL -' and 63-79 MPN 100 mL -' in summer, monsoon and winter, respectively. The range of faecal streptococci found in Kodaikanal lake water was 7-14 MPN 100 mL -1 during summer, 8-17 MPN 100 mL -1 during monsoon and 5-14 MPN 100 mL -1 during winter and that of Yercaud lake water was 17-46 MPN 100 mL -1, 26-49 MPN 100 mL -1 and 9-43 MPN 100 mL -1 in summer, monsoon and winter respectively. Bacteriological analysis of the lake waters indicated that water was polluted by faecal contaminants to the extent that they were unpotable for and unsuitable for recreational activity. Hence the lakes needed thorough impoundment. © 2010 Academic Journals Inc.