Bacterial composition of natural water sources and consumer treated water in Guambía, Cauca

Abstract

In the world, 80% of the infectious and gastrointestinal parasi­te diseases are caused by the use and consume of non-drinka­ble water. The lack of hygiene and the miss functional sanitary techniques are some of the reasons why the diarrheic disease is still an important health problem in developing countries. The water and the contaminated food are considered as the principal vehicles involved in the transmission of bacterium, viruses and parasites; thus, the importance of knowing the mi­crobiological quality of the water of Guambia, indian territory of Cauca, Colombia, and sustain the risk of this insalubrious behavior. Methods: we collected samples of water from Caci­que River (one of the rivers of Guambian territory) in different leves of its route; samples from Mamá Dominga Hospital and Las Delicias school treated water and they were analyzed in Angel laboratory S.A in Cali. Results: we found an elevated amount of aerobic mesofilous in all the samples, with >10.000 CFU (colony formed units)/ 100ml, (reference parameter <100CFU/100ml). In all the samples exists an elevated quanti­ty of faecal coliform bacteria, being the highest number of CFU in the samples number 3 and 5, that correspond to water from Cacique river and Las Delicias kitchen school. Discussion: it exists a preoccupation related to the microbiological composi­tion of the natural river water and treated water from Guam­bia area, due its high quantity of mesofilous bacteria, faecal coliform and E. Coli. A high percentage of admissions in the hospital are related to gastrointestinal and respiratory disea­ses that might be secondary to the non-drinkable water intake and use, and wrong hygiene habits. Conclusions: We confirm the importance of a good use of the water and adequate decon­tamination and management.