Bacteriological Quality of Water in Meet Khamis Drinking Water Plant, Egypt: Detection of Bacterial Pathogens and Contamination Sources

This study aims to evaluating the bacteriological quality of water in four areas. Locations under investigation were: (1) The River Nile water at Damietta Branch, which used as source water for Meet Khamis Water Treatment Plant, (2) the sedimentation tank in the treatment plant, (3) the final product of Meek Khamis Water Treatment Plant and (4) samples from the distribution system. Water samples from area 1, 2 and 3 were taken in the period from January 2015 till December 2015. Bacteriological analyses involved total coliforms (TC), faecal coliforms (FC), faecal streptococci (FS) and some pathogenic bacteria. The results showed that total coliforms (TC) ranged from 31667 to 78667 cfu/100 ml, faecal coliform (FC) from 2200 to 8200 cfu/100 ml and finally faecal streptococci (FS) ranged from 1200 to 2867 cfu/100 ml. Densities of these bacterial indicators decreased dramatically from raw water to sedimentation tank and completely disappeared in the treated water. One hundred and thirty-nine bacterial isolates obtained from the previously mentioned locations were identified using biochemical reaction tests. This included, the following suggested genera: Esherichia coli (25.9%), Klebsiella (12.2%), salmonella (18.7%), Citrobacter (0.72%), Proteus (16.5%), Shigella (24.5%), Serratia (1.4%). The obtained results indicated that, the River Nile water was subjected to sewage pollution; however, Meet Khamis water treatment station had the ability to completely remove it.