Physical and Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water from Water Dispensers at Schools in Bang Sai Sub-district and Sirindhorn College of Public Health Chonburi
Keywords:
drinking water quality, school water dispenser, total coliform, fecal coliform, EscherichiaAbstract
Water is a vital factor for human life for both water supplies and drinking water. Drinking water must be free from pathogens and toxic contaminants. Drinking water in schools and educational institutions is a basic service for students that the institutions must sufficiently provide both quantity and quality according to drinking water standard criteria consisting of 3 aspects: physical, chemical, and biological. This study aimed to examine the physical and biological drinking water quality toward Total coliform, Fecal coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli) among all drinking water dispensers, 21 samples, from schools located in Bang Sai sub-district and Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Chonburi. Water samples were collected from 7 water dispensers in the schools and 14 water dispensers in the college. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The results showed that physical quality in all samples were clean, odorless, pH value between 6.73 and 8.65, turbidity between 0.2 and 1.6 NTU, and electrical conductivity between 173.8 and 390 mg/L. In terms of biological quality, Total coliform contamination was < 1.1 – 26 MPN per 100 mL, Fecal coliform contamination was < 1.1 MPN per 100 mL, and E. coli contamination was not detected in all samples. However, it was found that 16 water samples (76.19%) met the standard criteria, the pH value met the standard criteria in 19 samples (90.48%), the turbidity level was in the acceptable range, and electrical conductivity met the standard in a good quality. To prevent contamination by Total coliform, Fecal coliform, and E. coli, it should address strategies to reduce the risk of water-borne diseases by surveillance, monitoring the quality of drinking water before entering to water dispensers, capability of water filter, filter change period, sanitation of drinking water according to the standard, and evaluation the quality of drinking water from drinking water dispensers in educational institutions in other aspects. Moreover, maintaining environmental aspects surrounding the water dispensers should be managed appropriately.
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