CHANGING PATTERNS OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIAL POPULATION IN RELATION TO PHYSICO- CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SURFACE AND GROUND WATER RESOURCES OF PAMBA RIVER BASIN, KERALA, INDIAABIN VARGHESE AND PUNNEN KURIANAbstract Pamba, the third largest river in Kerala is starting from the foothills of Western Ghats and is exposed to millions of Sabarimala devotees, every year. Pamba river water and its adjoining drinking water resources (< 100 mt.) in upper and lower catchments of the river were evaluated for both bacteriological and physico-chemical parameters. A total of 21 pathogenic bacteria were obtained during peak pilgrimage season and 23 were isolated in post season, from river water, while from drinking water 19 pathogens were obtained during peak pilgrimage season and 18 species in post season. There is no significant change in pathogenic density and diversity in water resources even after pilgrimage season. A steady increase in bacterial density was observed from upper to lower catchments of the river. All the tested drinking water samples showed significantly high level of MPN, during peak pilgrimage season but comparatively less in post season. The changes in physicochemical parameters have significant influence upon pathogenic population and poses serious public health threat both to the interacting community as well as downstream riverbank community.
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