Multivariate Statistical Interpretation of Physical, Chemical and Microbiological Data of Potable Water in the Context of Public Health

摘要

In the present study three representative areas, lowland (LL), mountainous (M) and coastal (C), have been selected for the collection of water samples, in the Prefectures of Larissa, Trikala, Karditsa and Magnesia, Thessaly, central Greece. Three physical: (electric conductivity (EC, 25°C, μS/cm), pH, total hardness (TH, mg/L CaCO_3)), fourteen chemical (mg/L): (chloride (Cl~-), nitrate ((NO_3)~-), nitrite ((NO_2)~-), bicarbonate ((HCO_3)~-), carbonate ((CO_3)~-2), potassium (K~+), sodium (Na~+), ammonium ((NH_4)~+), calcium (Ca~(+2)), magnesium (Mg~(+2)), zing (Zn), iron Fe), manganese (Mn) and lead (Pb)) and eight microbiological: (total bacteriological flora in 22°C and in 36°C (TBF 22°C and TBF 36°C), total coliforms, Escherichia Coli, Staphylococcus Aureus, Enterococci, Clostridium Perfrigens, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa) parameters have been determined and analyzed for one-year period (2006). The mean values of the studied physical and chemical parameters, except trace elements, were found to be within the limits mentioned in the 98/83/EEC Directive. The analysis of microbiological variables shows that a big number of the studied water samples are inappropriate for human consumption because of the presence of microbes.