Bacteriological quality of drinking water from refrigerated coolers in a university community

ABSTRACT

The bacteriological quality and residual chlorine level of water from all functional coolers at various venues of a university community were determined. Of a total of 73 coolers tested, 51 (69.9 per cent) water samples had residual chlorine level of less than 0.4 ppm while 28 (38.4 per cent), 12 (16.4 per cent) and 5 (6.8 per cent) were positive for aerobic bacteria, total coliforms and Escherichia coli respectively. For 22 water samples with residual chlorine level of ¡Ý0.4 ppm, 9 (40.9 per cent) were positive for aerobic bacteria but all were negative for total coliforms and E. coli. However, the prevalence of aerobic bacteria, total coliforms and E. coli in 51 cooler-water samples with residual chlorine level less than 0.4 ppm was 19(37.3 per cent), 12 (23.5 per cent) and 5 (9.8 per cent) respectively. The fact that 16.4 per cent of cooler water samples were considered unfit for human consumption having exceeded the zero tolerance for coliforms in drinking water, could have health implications to consumers.