It was a social outreach program, conducted on 26 June 2019 at Zoology Lab. This programme was organized by Zoology Department in association with Nature Club. Water samples for analysis were collected from public places and its quality was tested for potability.
Sanitary Analysis of Drinking Water of Kuttanad Area Affected with Flood
Kuttanad is an area of waterlogging and lies below sea level. The level of water in this region is usually above the paddy fields that cover most of the region. Most people here are unaware of the health hazards likely to occur during or after the flood. In this study, we are trying to find out the impact of floods on the sanitary quality of drinking water of the Kuttanad area due to the heavy rainfall during 2018, the worst floods to hit in the last two decades that have shattered the Kuttanad region. The floodwater has resulted in the submergence of the entire region forcing the displacement of people. Safe drinking water and proper sanitation are the two inevitable necessities for human health and natives usually depend on groundwater for drinking purposes. But during the flood, the groundwater tables may be mixed with floodwater and become contaminated. Poor sanitation system has increased the contamination level and the contaminated water sources could spread out a number of water-borne diseases. Considering the prevalent situation, this study was taken to evaluate water for parameters, namely total coliform groups, faecal coliforms, Vibrio and Salmonella species by conventional microbiological techniques.
Objectives
To determine the MPN index of drinking water samples of the Kuttanad area by the MPN method.
To determine the presence of Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus from samples of drinking water from the Kuttanad region.
To determine the presence of Salmonella spp from samples of drinking water from the Kuttanad region.
To determine the biochemical characteristics of the isolated colonies.
Outcome/ Result
From the study, we could deduce that the water resources were completely polluted or contaminated.76.67 % of the analysed sample was found to be unsatisfactory for usage. Moreover, 30% of the analysed samples were found to have contaminated with E.coli. Around 83.34% of samples analysed were detected with the presence of Vibrio species. Among the samples of positive results, 56.67% of samples were detected with Vibrio cholerae and 23.34% of the positive samples were detected with the species of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Of the samples that showed the presence of Vibrio, 23.34% showed the presence of both V.cholerae and V.parahaemolyticus. 26.67% of the samples were found to have shown positive results for Salmonella Species. Taking to account, the location and sanitation conditions, water sources may be contaminated by floodwater. During flood, many waterborne diseases spread out like Cholera, Dysentery, Diarrhoea, Typhoid etc.
Soil Analysis-2020
It was a social outreach program, conducted on 26 June 2019 at Zoology Lab. This programme was organized by Zoology Department in association with Nature Club. Soil samples from Changanacherry municipality were collected and tested for acidity. Entire programme were done in free of cost mode
