Index >> Water Pollution Microbiology >>Faecal Pollution Indicators

Faecal Pollution Indicators - A number of pathogens are known to be transmitted through water. So, a routine analysis of water for the presence of these pathogens is required to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases. This infers that the routine analysis of water would be in search of pathogenic microorganisms, but that is not the case.
There are several reasons for this. Pathogenic microorganisms are likely to enter water sporadically and most of them can not survive in water for longer periods.

Moreover, bacteriological analysis of water will take a minimum of 24 hours and within this time, if pathogens are present, many people would have consumed the water resulting in the spread of the disease.
Because of the reasons cited above and others, the bacteriological analysis always includes the search for certain groups of bacteria which are collectively referred to as faecal pollution indicators.