Access to clean drinking water is essential for human health, but many communities face challenges in obtaining safe water. This study focuses on evaluating the presence of coliform bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), in drinking water samples collected during pre- and post-monsoon seasons. A total of 102 samples were analyzed using standard microbiological techniques to assess the prevalence and distribution of multi-drug resistant (MDR) E. coli. The study also explores relationships between E. coli occurrence and physicochemical water quality parameters using Pearson correlation analysis. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to identify the underlying patterns and factors influencing antibiotic resistance in E. coli strains. The results revealed that calcium, chloride, total dissolved solids, total hardness, and total alkalinity significantly influenced E. coli resistance. Additionally, fluoride and pH were found to be critical factors, with fluoride strongly associated with microbial activity, particularly with multi-drug-resistant E. coli, while pH affected water chemistry and bacterial dynamics. This study presents a novel and comprehensive approach to assessing drinking water quality through physicochemical analysis, microbial contamination evaluation, and antibiotic susceptibility testing. The findings provide valuable insights into antibiotic resistance dynamics in urban water systems, supporting efforts to develop targeted strategies for mitigating public health risks from waterborne pathogens.

Keywords: Water Quality; E. coli; PCA Multidrug Resistant Bacteria;