ASSESSMENT OF MICROBIAL AND HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION STATUS IN DRINKING WATER OF DIFFERENT HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS IN KHULNA CITY CORPORATION

Drinking water that is safe to consume is a basic necessity for all humans. Unsafe water

is a global concern, putting people at risk of a variety of ailments, including diarrhea

and other gastrointestinal illnesses, as well as chemical poisoning. When undesired

contaminants enter the water from many sources and there is no effective purification

procedure, water pollution occurs. Following a convenience sampling procedure, 21

drinking water samples from 21 healthcare institutions in Khulna city, were collected

for microbial & heavy metal analysis. Heavy metal concentrations (Fe, Mn, As, Cd,

Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy, while

microbial water quality parameters (FC, TC, and EC) were determined using the

membrane filtration technique. All the parameters values were compared with national

and international standards. Heavy metal concentrations were found to be within the

allowable limit set by drinking water quality regulations. FC, EC, and TC, three

microbial water quality indicators, were found to be over the acceptable limit in 95.23

percent, 57.14 percent, and 100 percent of the whole sample, respectively. The results

revealed the fact that all of the drinking water samples were free from heavy metal

contamination but were heavily contaminated with bacteria. Thus it is recommended

that the drinking water sources of healthcare institutions in Khulna city require

significant treatment before consumption and suggested to boil the water to prevent

microbial contamination.

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