Indicators of Contamination by Fecal Bacteria and Escherichia Coli in Sewage Water for Human Consumption

Abstract

To date there are few reports available on enteropathogenic micro-organisms that confirm the impact of the water body of the Santiago Apostol swamp complex on public health, although some data reveal daily discharges of millions of liters of wastewater, most without the slightest treatment. The objective was to determine the microbiological quality of the water of the swamp complex from drains and canals that flow into both sides of the swamp by detecting indicator organisms of faecal contamination, which allow the presence of intestinal pathogens to be inferred. Indicators of total coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli were quantified using the membrane filtration technique. The results showed that 100% of the samples showed the presence of faecal bacteria indicators. Based on the fact that these indicators should be zero in drinking water and using references for water bodies, the microbiological quality could be deduced, the samples being unsafe neither for human consumption activities nor for agricultural use. At present, the undisputed presence of enteropathogens in the water of the Santiago Apóstol swamp complex constitutes a risk to public health, mainly for the farmers who handle it and in irrigation due to the contamination of agricultural products for human consumption, as well as for people who come into contact with the swamp water.