Surface and drinking waters are routinely analyzed for physicochemical parameters and indicatorrnbacteria. However, the presence/absence of indicator bacteria may not necessarily be equallyrnindicative of the presence of pathogens. In this study, the physicochemical and bacterial indicatorrnof water quality parameters were compared with the occurrences of waterborne bacterialrnpathogens from water and sediment samples of Lake Zwai, Meki and Qatar Rivers and drinkingrnwater system of Batu (Zwai) Town. Seventy eight water and sediment samples were collectedrnfrom April through November 2013 and analyzed for the physicochemical parameters (pH,rntemperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and phosphate),rnindicator bacteria (Escherichia coli, Enterococci, Clostridium perfringens, total and fecalrncoliforms) and pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio cholera, Vibrio spp., E. colirnO157:H7) using standard methods. All except temperature, the physicochemical parameters inrnreservoir and tap water samples met the maximum permissible value for drinking water. Thernhighest proportion of pathogenic bacteria was detected from lake sediment (52.7%), followed byrnMeki and Qatar Rivers sediment (50.0%), lake water (40.4%), Qatar (33.3%) and Meki (26.7%)rnRiver water, tap water (4.8%) and none from reservoir water samples. Vibrio cholera, Vibriornspp, Salmonella and Shigella were commonly detected from surface water and sediment samplesrn(48.9%), whereas, E. coli O157:H7 was limited in a few sources with low percentage (3.3%).rnWith respect to the microbial load of the tested organisms, the highest count of 4.20 logrnCFU/100 g of indicator bacteria was detected from river sediment and the lowest count of 0.42rnlog CFU/100 ml recorded from reservoir water. Differences in concentration of indicator bacteriarnwere statistically significant (P