Surveillance of Drinking Water Quality in the Neighboring Community

Ensuring safe drinking water is a fundamental component of public health. Surveillance of water
quality helps in identifying contamination risks, preventing waterborne diseases, and maintaining
hygiene standards. According to Park?s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, drinking water
surveillance follows a structured approach involving monitoring, assessment, and intervention to
maintain safe and potable water for communities.

1. Definition of Water Quality Surveillance

Water quality surveillance is a continuous and systematic process of monitoring, assessing, and
taking corrective action to ensure that the water supplied to the public meets safety standards.

Objectives of Water Quality Surveillance:

Detect contamination at the source and distribution points.

Prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.

Ensure compliance with drinking water quality standards (BIS 10500, WHO guidelines).

Identify emerging pollutants and contamination risks.

2. Components of Drinking Water Surveillance

Surveillance involves a multi-tier approach that includes source assessment, treatment, distribution
monitoring, and user-level safety.

(A) Surveillance at the Water Source

Identification of water sources: Rivers, lakes, wells, borewells, reservoirs.

Testing for physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters.

Periodic chlorination and maintenance of reservoirs.

(B) Water Treatment Plant Surveillance

Coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection processes are monitored.

Ensuring correct chlorine dosage in treated water.

Fluoride and arsenic levels are monitored in endemic areas.

(C) Distribution System Surveillance

Checking piped water supply networks for leakage and cross-contamination.

Regular flushing and cleaning of pipelines.

Ensuring that storage tanks are sealed and protected.

Residual chlorine testing in distribution points.

(D) Household and Community-Level Surveillance

Educating the community on safe water handling and storage.

Monitoring household water purification methods like boiling, filtration, and chlorination.

Identifying high-risk areas with frequent diarrheal disease outbreaks.

Encouraging the use of safe sanitation practices to prevent contamination.

3. Water Quality Monitoring Parameters

Water is tested for various physical, chemical, and microbiological contaminants.

Turbidity (Cloudiness) ? should be <5 NTU

Color, Odor, and Taste ? Should be absent

Temperature ? Should be optimal for drinking

(B) Chemical Parameters

pH (6.5 ? 8.5)

Chloride, Sulfate, Nitrate, Fluoride levels within WHO limits

Heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury monitored in industrial areas

(C) Microbiological Parameters

Coliform Count (Indicator of fecal contamination) ? should be 0 per 100ml

E. coli presence ? indicates contamination with human/animal waste

Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella, Shigella ? checked during outbreaks

(D) Residual Chlorine Testing

Minimum 0.2 mg/L at the consumer level

0.5 mg/L in epidemic-prone areas

4. Methods of Water Quality Surveillance

Different testing methods are used depending on the level of surveillance.

(A) Field-Level Testing

Chlorine Residual Test Kits ? To check for proper disinfection.

Turbidity Test ? To check clarity of water.

(B) Laboratory Testing

Multiple Tube Fermentation Test (Most Probable Number - MPN method) for coliform bacteria.

Membrane Filtration Method ? Used for precise bacterial count.

Chemical Analysis ? To detect heavy metals, nitrates, and fluoride.

(C) Remote Monitoring

Use of GIS mapping and satellite surveillance to track contamination.

Digital sensors in water treatment plants for real-time monitoring.

5. Corrective Actions Based on Surveillance Findings

Chlorination or UV treatment to eliminate bacterial contamination.

Boil water advisory during disease outbreaks.

Repairing broken pipelines and leaks to prevent contamination.

Fluoride and arsenic removal using defluoridation plants in affected areas.

Community awareness programs on waterborne disease prevention.

6. Institutional Framework for Water Surveillance in India

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS 10500:2012) ? Sets national drinking water standards.

Ministry of Jal Shakti ? Oversees the National Rural Drinking Water Program (NRDWP).

National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) ? Tracks waterborne disease outbreaks.

Urban and Rural Health Centers ? Conduct local water quality testing.

7. Role of Community Participation

Households must be educated on safe water storage and purification.

Community water testing drives can be conducted with local authorities.

Formation of Water User Groups (WUGs) to oversee local water quality.

Encouragement of rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge programs.

8. Challenges in Drinking Water Quality Surveillance

Inadequate testing facilities in rural areas.

Contamination from industrial and agricultural waste.

Poor maintenance of water supply infrastructure.

Lack of awareness among the public about safe water handling.

Emerging threats such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria in water.

Water quality surveillance is essential to prevent waterborne diseases and ensure safe drinking
water for the community. A multi-level approach involving regular testing, community involvement,
and strict regulatory enforcement is necessary to achieve sustainable water safety goals. The
integration of technology, digital monitoring, and public awareness will strengthen water quality
management and safeguard public health.

This detailed long note covers all aspects of drinking water surveillance based on Park?s Textbook
of Preventive and Social Medicine. Let me know if you need further modifications or a more concise
version! ?