PAU Develops A Water Testing Kit

Ludhiana, June 22, 2015: The Department of Microbiology of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has developed a simple, portable and inexpensive bacteriological water testing kit to determine the easy portability of drinking water. The kit has been developed for the convenience of public, farmers, health workers, inspectors, sanitary workers, engineering wings and public health officials. The kit is available in the Department of Microbiology, PAU for Rs 40/- only.

Reiterating the fact, Dr (Mrs) P.P. Sahota, Head, Department of Microbiology, that drinking water was indispensable for human existence said "In Punjab, the quality of water has deteriorated due to the inferior quality of pipes, storage tanks and sediments. All the surfaces in contact with finished water are colonized by micro-organisms, which can survive and grow, thus, resulting in the deterioration of hygienic quality of drinking water." Dr Sahota further disclosed, "World Health Organization has estimated that up to 80 per cent of all the sicknesses and diseases in the world are caused by inadequate sanitation, polluted water or unavailability of water. In India, nearly 21 per cent of all communicable diseases are waterborne."

Another Microbiology expert, Dr Gulab Pandove highlighted that the kit has got many advantages over the conventional method of water quality testing like decreased labour, no requirement for equipment, and easy interpretation of results. "A moderately trained individual could interpret the kit results," she said. The water testing kit can be used in the fields also, she added.