Assessment of the drinking water quality in the municipality of Vinto-Cochabamba-Bolivia

Abstract

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; line-height: 120%; mso-pagination: none; layout-grid-mode: char; mso-layout-grid-align: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; text-autospace: none; margin: 12.0pt 0cm 6.0pt 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Since coliform bacteria can raise the risk of infectious diseases in the most susceptible groups, their presence in water poses a possible concern to public health. When the physicochemical and microbiological quality of the water is uncertain, the situation becomes more complex. This study aims to assess the drinking water quality in three Territorial Base Organizations (TBOs) of the Municipality of Vinto-Cochabamba as well as the link between the TBOs and the microbiological parameters. According to Bolivian Standard 512 (NB 512), laboratory analyses of 30 samples collected from various residences (10 samples per TBO) demonstrate compliance with the upper limits of allowable values for physicochemical parameters (pH, conductivity, alkalinity, and hardness). The microbiological parameters were subjected to chi-square analysis, showing enough evidence to confirm with 95% confidence that the results of total and heat-resistant coliforms do not depend on the TBO (<em>p</em></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">=</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">0.36). By comparing the results of household water consumption with those of water supplied, it can be hypothesized that contamination of microbiological origin occurs either in the distribution pipes, household tanks, and/or the water use practices of each household. Of the 30 samples analyzed, only 11 met the maximum permissible limit for total coliforms, whereas 25 of the 30 samples met the maximum permissible limit for total coliforms.</span></p>