Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Abstract: One of the several water treatment methods and techniques that have been made in
order to make water safe to drink is using portable water filters which remove some types of
infectious agents from drinking water. This study aimed to determine whether Total Coliform
and E. coli content is present in water from three different water dispensers with mineral stone
water filter cartridge namely, M-bio, Water Quantity, and Keosan water filter using
Chromogenic Substrate test (Presence-Absence Method) or not, regardless of the factors that the
water dispensers may possess. Also, it determines the implications of E. coli and Total Coliform
to human health. The study covered three 100 mL water samples, each from the three water filter
dispensers were tested for E. coli and total coliform and its results were compared to the
Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water, Dept. of Health 2007 (PNSDW). Based on the
Laboratory results, all water samples from three water dispensers were positive in Total Coliform
test and all were negative in the E. coli test. With these results, it has been concluded that the
water from water dispensers with mineral stone water filter cartridge is not drinkable since it has
been proven that, based on the conformance to PNSDW, the results of analysis on Total
Coliform and E. coli do not pass the standards of drinking water.
Keywords: Escherichia coli (E. coli), Chromogenic Substrate Test, Microbial, Microbiological
quality, Potable water, Standards in drinking water, Tap water, Total coliform bacteria, Water
filter.
1.0 Introduction
Water is essential to sustain life, and a satisfactory supply, which is adequate, safe and
accessible, that must be available to all. One needs water in order to survive and according to
World Health Organization (WHO), water intended for human consumption should be both safe
and wholesome. With this, several water treatment methods and techniques have been made in
order to make water safe to drink. One of these techniques is using portable water filters which
remove some types of infectious agents from drinking water (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2006). As observed in the country, some people who cannot afford drinking water,
such as mineral water, that can be delivered and supplied to their homes use the dispenser with
mineral stone water filter cartridges instead. With this, they can save a lot of money since all it
requires is to pour tap water into the dispenser to be filtered for drinking.
However, some have been questioning whether drinking water from the said filters is
potable or not. This gave the researcher the push to undertake this research study. The
researchers primary goal is to determine whether the water that has undergone filtration using
the mineral stone water filter cartridge is microbially safe in terms of total coliform and
Escherichia coli (E coli), which are commonly used as microbial indictors of drinking water
quality, regardless of the factors that the water dispensers may possess, such as length of usage
time, structure of the water dispensers and filters. It is hoped that this study would make the
public be aware that exposure to disease-carrying pathogens potentially indicated by the presence
of coliform bacteria and E. coli may cause serious infections to exposed people who consume
water that is not microbially safe.
Conceptual Framework
This research study contains independent variables and the dependent variable of the
study. The water filter dispensers that were used in this study as independent variable all contain
a bed of mineral stones. The water that was used in the dispenser was tap water. Three 100 mL
water samples from each of the three water filter dispensers namely, M-bio, Water Quantity, and
Keosan water filter dispenser were tested for E.coli and Total Coliform content/contamination
analysis since E.coli and Total Coliform are the most common microbial indicators in assuring
that water is microbially safe for drinking.
The presence of Total Coliform and E. coli indicates that your water supply may be
vulnerable to contamination by more harmful microorganisms. E. coli and Total Coliform
bacteria content served as the dependent variables of the study. E. coli and total coliform was
then compared to the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water, Dept. of Health 2007.
Water samples from:
3.0 Methodology
The design that was used in this research study is the descriptive design because it is a
scientific method that involves observing and describing the behaviour of a subject without
influencing it in any way. The researcher collected the water samples from Water Quantity
Dispenser at the Cinco residence and Keosan Water dispenser at Lim residence, located at Julio
Pacana St. Puntod Cagayan de Oro City. The researcher got the water sample from M-bio
dispenser at the Lopez residence, located at Manuel Vega St. Consolacion Cagayan de Oro City.
The sampling used in this research study is convenience sampling since this sampling
method in which units are selected based on easy access or availability. Three 100 mL water
samples were obtained, each from the three water filter dispensers with mineral stone water filter
cartridge. The water samples were then tested for E. coli and Total Coliform at the laboratory in
First Analytical Services and Technical Cooperative or F.A.S.T. laboratory, Recto St. corner
Camp Alagar Road, Brgy. Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City Philippines 9000. The method used for
testing of Total Coliform and E. coli is the Chromogenic Substrate Test (Presence-Absence)
which is a method that is very accurate in determining the presence or absence of both coliform
and E.coli bacteria.
During data gathering, the researcher first sent a letter of permission to the High School
Principal for the data gathering approval. After, the researcher refilled the water filters with tap
water and waited until the water is filtered and ready to be collected. Before obtaining the
samples from the water filters, the researcher first cleaned the inside of the mouth of the faucet of
the water dispenser by using cotton balls clamped by a pair of tweezers and dipped into 70%
solution of Isopropyl alcohol. Then the researcher purchased a new 350 mL (or not less than 100
mL) mineral bottled water that was never been opened. The researcher then emptied the bottle.
The researcher directly refilled the bottle with the water from the water filter, closed the cap
tightly then labeled the bottle with its corresponding sample number. The researcher directly
placed the bottle inside a portable cooler with ice inside and brought the ice cooler and turned
over the water samples directly to FAST laboratory for Chromogenic Substrate test (Presence-
Absence). After four days, the researcher got and received the test results from FAST laboratory.
4.0 Discussion of Results
Water Sample Total Coliform
per 100 mL
Sample 1 Positive
(M-bio)
Sample 2 Positive
(Water Quantity)
Sample 3 Positive
(Keosan)
Table 3: Conformance to the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water, Dept. of Health 2007
Based on the conformance to PNSDW shown in table 3, the results exceeded the
standards for drinking water. With this, we can say that all water samples did not pass to be
drinkable.
6.0 References
Run for Right to Drink Safe Water. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 22 August, 2011.
Department of Health: Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water 2007. Manila: Office of the Secretary, 09
March, 2007.
Dr. Melita Stevens, Dr. Nicholas Ashbolt and David Cunliffe. Review of Coliforms As Microbial Indicators of
Drinking Water Quality: Recommendations to Change the Use of Coliforms as Microbial Indicators of Drinking
Water Quality. Australian Government: National Health and Medical Research Council., April 2003.
World Health Organization. Guidelines for drinking-water quality [electronic resource]: incorporating 1st and 2nd
addenda, Vol.1, Recommendations. 3rd ed. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data.,
2008.
Washington State Department of Health. (n.d.). Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water. Retrieved from
http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/DrinkingWater/Contaminants/Coliform.aspx
National Academy of Sciences. (2006). Why Is Safe Water Essential?. Retrieved from http://www.drinking-
water.org/html/en/Overview/Why-is-Safe-Water-Essential.html
Michigan Water Science Center. (2007, December). Fecal Indicator Bacteria and Sanitary Water Quality. Retrieved
from http://mi.water.usgs.gov/h2oqual/BactHOWeb.html
World Health Organization. (2010). Water Sanitation Health. Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/arsenic2/en/index1.html
Washtenaw Country Michigan. (1998, September). Coliform Bacteria and Drinking Water. Retrieved from
http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/environmental_health/wells_septic/well_septic_pdf/eh_colifor
mfactsheet.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006, May 27). Water Treatment Methods. Retrieved from
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/water-treatment.htm
Appendices
A. Result of Analysis from F.A.S.T. Laboratory
B. Pictures of Documentation