Bacteriological findings in lake, river and well water supplies of Rangoon

Water samples, both unchlorinated and chlorinated, from 20 natural water sources in Rangoon town comprising lakes, river and wells were examined during the period July 1966 to July 1968 for the Presumptive Coliform Count, the Presumptive Enterococcus Count and the presence of presumptive Clostridium perfringens. Bacteria isolated from MacConkey bile salt lactose peptone water (Cruickshank, 1965) and sodium azide medium (Hannay and Norton, 1947) primary cultures were identified. Using as criteria the Presumptive Coliform Count, the Presumptive Enterococcus Count and the isolation of Escherichia coli and/or Klebsiella aerogenes and/or Streptococcus faecalis, 18 out of 20 samples were found unsatisfactory for drinking purposes. The bacteria isolated were E. coli, K. aerogenes, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Alcaligenes faecalis, a Bacillus sp., Proteus mirabilis, P. morganii, P. vulgaris, a Providencia Etrain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescent and s. faecalis.

The bacteriology of the water supplies of Rangoon.1.Monsoon and post-monsoon seasons

38 water samples taken from piped and natural sources in Rangoon during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons of 1966 were examined bacteriologically using Mac Conkey broth as a primary culture medium. 31 of the 38 samples were found unsatisfactory for drinking purposes. The species isolated included Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, an Entero-bacter sp., Alcaligenes faecalis, Chromobacterium janthinum, Proteur, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescens and Serratia marcescens. Viabilities at 4C of E. coli, the Enterobacter strain, A. faecalis and P.fluorescens varied from 7-56 days, that of C. janthinum and s. marcescens was a minimum of 7 days. At room temperature (22.8C to 31.1C) E. coli and P. fluorescens were viable for 28, and K. aerogenes for less than 7 days.