E. coli and Coliform Bacteria as Indicators for Drinking Water Quality and Handling of Drinking Water in the Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

A study conducted during the 2016 pre-monsoon dry season in the Khumbu Valley, Sagarmatha National Park (SNP), and its buffer zone revealed significant fecal contamination in drinking water sources, primarily groundwater-fed springs. The research found weak correlations between total coliform data and increasing temperature, decreasing elevation, and pH, but a notable correlation between population density—including tourist numbers—and higher levels of E. coli and total coliforms. Importantly, drinking water stored in tanks or transported long distances exhibited much higher bacterial contamination, suggesting that improved water handling practices could significantly enhance drinking water quality and public health outcomes.

Nicholson, K. N., Neumann, K., Dowling, C., & Sharma, S. (2017). E. coli and Coliform Bacteria as Indicators for Drinking Water Quality and Handling of Drinking Water in the Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal. Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, 6(2), 411. https://doi.org/10.5296/emsd.v6i2.11982