Monitoring of water quality in selected water bodies in the Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation

Chelyabinsk water bodies’ sources selected, namely Miass river, Smolino and Shershni (Shershnevskoe reservoir) lakes’ samples, were analysed for physico-chemical properties, and Shershni and Sunukul lakes, as well as Snow samples (in heavy cold climate countries, at spring time, melting the Snow and added to the water bodies/cycle), from surrounding locations were analysed for bacteria, to ascertain if the water met the required health standards by the Maximum Permissible Concentration [(Permissible concentration (MPC) of chemicals in the water for drinking, cultural and domestic use) Resolution of the Sanitary Inspector of the Russian Federation (30.04.2003 Moscow № 78 Oввeдeнии в дeйcтвиe ГH 2.1.5.1315-03), 2003] and Russian Federation and World Health Organization (WHO, Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, 1998). Analysis was done using standard methods, and these water samples’ physico-chemical characteristic results are pH and K + , and all the metallic elements such as Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn and except Pb within the standards. Furthermore, the concentrations of parameters TDS, EC, Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Cl − , SO 4 − , Na + and PO 4 − in water samples exceeded the maximum permissible limits. The presence of total coliforms counts varied from 5 to 16 MPN/100 mL −1 , while Escherichia coli ( E. Coli ) counts ranged from 2 to 12 MPN/100 mL −1 . Among the total coliform, Spirillum, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella, Sarcina cocci , and Enterococcus were detected in the water sources of Sunukul and Snow samples. The Faecal coliform and the E. coli counts exceeding acceptable limits are indicative of pollution from natural and anthropogenic. The study concludes that some water sources in tropics do not meet the potable water standards according to MPC (2003) and WHO (1998); hence, there can be potential sources of waterborne diseases. The study stresses that the point-of-use water sources’ disinfection is thus necessary. In this purpose, we suggested some promising suitable disinfection technological methods for this area such as Automatic Variable Filtration (AVF) technology, Chlorination, Ultraviolet Radiation, Ultrasound, and Ozonation.