A Study on the Characteristics of Drinking Water Sources and Associated Parasites in the Ghat Region

Abstract

Water is a fundamental source of life used by humans daily. Without water, humans, animals, and plants cannot survive. Recently, waterborne parasitic infections have become a growing concern due to the contamination of drinking water sources with parasites that cause infectious diseases in humans. This study aimed to determine the contamination levels of parasites transmitted through drinking water in selected areas of the Ghat region. Sixteen (16) samples were collected from the target areas of the study: Ghat, Al-Barakat, Al-Faiwat, Tinjaraban, and Essayan. After collection, the following parameters were measured: temperature (°C), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), hydrogen ion concentration (pH), and parasite presence in the samples. The temperature was moderate in most areas, while DO and BOD levels varied due to contamination from floodwaters, rainwater, and human/animal waste residues. pH levels also fluctuated across the sources. Several parasites were detected, with (Ascaris lumbricoides) being the most prevalent in most study areas, particularly in, Tinjaraban, where drinking water contamination was exacerbated by floods in August and September 2024.This study concludes that some drinking water sources in the Ghat region are contaminated with parasites and are unfit for consumption. It is recommended to purify these sources using methods such as sedimentation, coagulation, filtration, and reverse osmosis.