An assessment of bacteriological and physicochemical qualities of groundwater in the rural environs of Chelekere, India

Groundwater is normally considered a “safe-source” of drinking water as it is usually having a low microbial load that could be consumed without treatment. However, groundwater sources are often vulnerable to contamination, thus lowering their quality. This study was conducted to determine the groundwater quality in Chelekere, Karnataka State. The study was designed using standard methods to obtain the physical properties [Temperature, pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Solid and Total Suspended Solid] and biological properties [Biochemical Characterization Tests, Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Dissolved Oxygen, Gram Staining, Most Probable Number and Motility] of the water. All the physical properties were within acceptable limits conversely the biological properties were higher than the WHO, BIS and CPCB Guidelines and Standards for Water. The detection of Enterobacter spp., Escherichia spp., Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Shigella spp. and Yersinia spp. from water suggests that these sources could pose severe health hazards to consumers and is inappropriate for direct human ingestion without treatment. The research recommends the utilization of on-site treatment interventions to safeguard the households from further possible consequences of using the water.