Asian Journal of Research in Biology

Safe drinking water is essential for human health, yet fungal contamination receives less attention than bacterial contamination. This preliminary pilot study assessed the possible occurrence of fungi in treated drinking water collected from Raghava Colony, Saidapet, Chennai, India. A single 100 mL sample was collected aseptically and analysed using the Indian Standard method IS 5403:1999 with Yeast Extract Dextrose Chloramphenicol agar. Following incubation at 25 ± 1°C for 3–5 days, colonies were evaluated by macroscopic morphology and microscopic examination using Lactophenol Cotton Blue staining. The isolates were presumptively identified as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. Characteristic colonies of Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were not detected. These observations indicate that fungal propagules may be present in treated drinking water despite filtration and chlorination; however, they do not establish the extent, frequency, or public health significance of contamination. Interpretation is limited by the analysis of one sample, the absence of replicate sampling, quantitative colony enumeration, statistical analysis, and molecular confirmation. The findings therefore provide only preliminary baseline evidence for the selected location. Further investigations using multiple samples, seasonal sampling, quantitative fungal counts, and molecular identification are required to characterise fungal occurrence more reliably within the drinking water distribution system at this location.