Correlation of bacteriological quality of drinking water and sewage disposal in Zenica-Doboj Canton

Aim To determine the bacteriological quality of drinking watersamples analyzed in the period between 1 January 2007 and 30June 2012 in Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina.Methods The data were extracted from the Protocols of theLaboratory for Sanitary and Clinical Microbiology (CantonalPublic Health Institute Zenica). A total number of coliformbacteria, thermotolerant E. coli and aerobic mesophilic bacteriawere determined. Membrane filtration method (MFM)was used for the analysis the samples of drinking water. Theanalyses were performed according to standards and legal regulations.Results A total number of 14932 samples were analyzed, ofwhich 2276 (15.2%) samples did not meet the standards. Thetrend of drinking water quality was slightly increasing. Thehighest number of unsatisfactory samples was from wells, 2863(83.1%) samples, from which 46.1% of the Canton populationis supplied. There was a statistically significant correlationbetween bacteriological quality of water and quality of sewagesanitation systems in rural regions (Pearson correlation coefficientsof 0.449).Conclusion Poor sewage sanitation systems in rural regions isa cause of a high number of unsatisfactory samples of drinkingwater. Preventive activities and more frequent water samplingare necessary measures.