Assessment of microbiological quality of drinking water from household tanks in Bermuda. 2008

B Lévesque, and D Pereg, and E Watkinson, and J S Maguire, and L Bissonnette, and S Gingras, and P Rouja, and M G Bergeron, and E Dewailly
Institut National de Sante Publique du Quebec, Quebec, QC, Canada. benoit.levesque@inspq.qc.ca

Bermuda residents collect rainwater from rooftops to fulfil their freshwater needs. The objective of this study was to assess the microbiological quality of drinking water in household tanks throughout Bermuda. The tanks surveyed were selected randomly from the electoral register. Governmental officers visited the selected household (n = 102) to collect water samples and administer a short questionnaire about the tank characteristics, the residents' habits in terms of water use, and general information on the water collecting system and its maintenance. At the same time, water samples were collected for analysis and total coliforms and Escherichia coli were determined by 2 methods (membrane filtration and culture on chromogenic media, Colilert kit). Results from the 2 methods were highly correlated and showed that approximately 90% of the samples analysed were contaminated with total coliforms in concentrations exceeding 10 CFU/100 mL, and approximately 66% of samples showed contamination with E. coli. Tank cleaning in the year prior to sampling seems to protect against water contamination. If rainwater collection from roofs is the most efficient mean for providing freshwater to Bermudians, it must not be considered a source of high quality drinking water because of the high levels of microbial contamination.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004926 Escherichia coli A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc. Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D005618 Fresh Water Water containing no significant amounts of salts, such as water from RIVERS and LAKES. Freshwater,Fresh Waters,Freshwaters,Water, Fresh,Waters, Fresh
D006794 Household Articles Various material objects and items in the home. It includes temporary or permanent machinery and appliances. It does not include furniture or interior furnishings (FURNITURE see INTERIOR DESIGN AND FURNISHINGS; INTERIOR FURNISHINGS see INTERIOR DESIGN AND FURNISHINGS). Household Equipment,Article, Household,Articles, Household,Equipment, Household,Household Article
D001605 Bermuda A British colony in the western North Atlantic Ocean about 640 miles east southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It comprises a group of about 300 islands of which only about 20 are inhabited. It is called also the Bermuda Islands or the Bermudas. It was named for the Spanish explorer Juan Bermudez who visited the islands in 1515. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p140 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p61)
D014881 Water Supply Means or process of supplying water (as for a community) usually including reservoirs, tunnels, and pipelines and often the watershed from which the water is ultimately drawn. (Webster, 3d ed) Supplies, Water,Supply, Water,Water Supplies
D015169 Colony Count, Microbial Enumeration by direct count of viable, isolated bacterial, archaeal, or fungal CELLS or SPORES capable of growth on solid CULTURE MEDIA. The method is used routinely by environmental microbiologists for quantifying organisms in AIR; FOOD; and WATER; by clinicians for measuring patients' microbial load; and in antimicrobial drug testing. Agar Dilution Count,Colony-Forming Units Assay, Microbial,Fungal Count,Pour Plate Count,Spore Count,Spread Plate Count,Streak Plate Count,Colony Forming Units Assay, Microbial,Colony Forming Units Assays, Microbial,Agar Dilution Counts,Colony Counts, Microbial,Count, Agar Dilution,Count, Fungal,Count, Microbial Colony,Count, Pour Plate,Count, Spore,Count, Spread Plate,Count, Streak Plate,Counts, Agar Dilution,Counts, Fungal,Counts, Microbial Colony,Counts, Pour Plate,Counts, Spore,Counts, Spread Plate,Counts, Streak Plate,Dilution Count, Agar,Dilution Counts, Agar,Fungal Counts,Microbial Colony Count,Microbial Colony Counts,Pour Plate Counts,Spore Counts,Spread Plate Counts,Streak Plate Counts

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