MICROBIAL ASSESSMENT OF INDUSTRIAL WATER COLLECTED FROM MAJOR INDUSTRIAL CITIES OF PAKISTAN
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Keywords
Water pollution, drinking water quality, Public health, industrial wastewater, antibiotic resistance, water resources, , microbial contamination, Pakistan
Abstract
The provision of clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental human right and critical to public health. Pakistan is currently grappling with water scarcity and contamination, so ensuring the hydro-environmental safety is a matter of supreme concern. This study examines the extent and nature of microbial contaminants in surface, ground, waste, and drinking water sources across five major industrial cities. 300 water samples retrieved from Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Gujranwala were subjected to microbiological characterization and quantification. The study performed between January 2022 and January 2023 was focused on total coliforms, fecal coliforms, E. coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Legionella pneumophila count. Our findings reveal a pervasive presence of bacterial contaminants in water sources, with alarming prevalence rates observed in Karachi. The highest contamination levels were associated with wastewater samples (100%), highlighting the urgent need for effective wastewater treatment methods. Moreover, antibiotic resistance has been detected in specific bacterial strains. All results were evaluated against the international water quality standards established by the WHO, EPA, and NSDWQ. It is imperative to take immediate action to address the complex challenges associated with water contamination. These efforts need to be thorough and involve collaboration between government regulatory agencies and industry stakeholders.
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Zoha Zainab
Department of Microbiology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
Hassan Adilb
Department of Biotechnology, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
Wajeeha Rehman
College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 53700, Pakistan
Ghania Syed
Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 53700, Pakistan
Muneeba Rasool
Department of Microbiology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
Tayyaba Qureshi
Department of Microbiology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
Malik Arsalan Ali
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5000, Australia.
Muhammad Qudduse Ahmad Rao
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Lahore, 54000, Lahore, Pakistan.
Muhammad Arqam
Department of Microbiology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
Mohsin Gulzar Barq
Department of Microbiology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.