Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Microbial pollutants in stagnant water in an informal settlement in the Western Cape, South Africa

3^rd International Congress on Bacteriology and Infectious Diseases

August 04-06, 2015 Valencia, Spain

Arnelia N Paulse, Qenehelo A Leuta and James P Odendaal

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Bacteriol Parasitol

Abstract:

Inadequate sanitation and poor drainage in informal settlements result in greywater being stagnant at the base of communal
taps. This water could potentially cause health problems to those who come in contact with it. This study is aimed at determining
microbial pollutant levels in stagnant greywater in the RR Section of Khayelitsha, Western Cape, South Africa. Sampling of
stagnant greywater was conducted twice monthly (January to May 2013) from the base of six communal taps. Enumeration
techniques employed included the Most Probable Number (MPN), Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) and Flow Cytometric
(FCM) techniques. Identification techniques utilised included the API 20E, RapID™ ONE and BBL Crystal™ Gram Positive
(GP) Identification (ID) systems. The highest MPN, faecal coliform and E. coli counts were 1.6 x 108 microorganisms/100m�??
(Sites A, B; weeks 3 and 5), 4.7 x 106 microorganisms/100m�?? (Site B; week 5) and 1.8 x 106 microorganisms/100m�?? [Site
A (week 5); Site F (week 5)], respectively. The highest total FCM count was 3.4 x 107 microorganisms/m�?? (Site A, week
5). The FCM technique showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher counts than both the MPN and HPC techniques. The most
common microorganisms isolated included Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Klebsiella oxytoca, Acinetobacter baumannii/
calcoaceticus, Enterobacter cloacae, Corynebacterium species and Bacillus cereus. The presence of these microorganisms in
addition to significantly high microbial counts obtained, raises major health concerns as these organisms present in high
numbers may lead to serious waterborne diseases, especially in informal settlements where population densities are extremely
high.

Biography :

Arnelia Paulse obtained her PhD from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa in 2009. She is currently a lecturer in the Department
of Environmental and Occupational Studies and is one of the co-pi of the Bioresource Engineering Research Group (BioERG) at the Cape Peninsula University
of Technology. She has published 9 peer-reviewed accredited scientific publications as both main and co-author and is supervising several Masters students. Dr.
Paulse has successfully graduated two Masters Students.