Microbiological analyses for assessing the potability of water samples from public schools
Drinking water requires high quality standards in order to control disease transmission. At schools, the water is used for preparing meals and washing utensils in contact with food. This study assessed the storage conditions and the quality of drinking water used in public schools of Rio Grande do S...
| Autores: | , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2011 |
| País: | Brasil |
| Institución: | Instituto Adolfo Lutz |
| Repositorio: | Revista do Instituto Adolfo Lutz (Online) |
| Idioma: | portugués |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ojs.periodicos.saude.sp.gov.br:article/32545 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://periodicos.saude.sp.gov.br/RIAL/article/view/32545 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | potable water water storage coliforms Escherichia coli Public Health água potável reservatórios de água coliformes Saúde Pública |
| Sumario: | Drinking water requires high quality standards in order to control disease transmission. At schools, the water is used for preparing meals and washing utensils in contact with food. This study assessed the storage conditions and the quality of drinking water used in public schools of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, analysing the water potability by means of microbiological parameters. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 124 schools located in seven regions of Rio Grande do Sul. The collected water samples were analyzed for the presence of total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Shigella sp. and mesophilic bacteria. A questionnaire on water supply and storage conditions was applied. Total coliforms and E. coli were detected in water samples from 22.6 and 10.5% schools, respectively. No Shigella sp. was detected in any sample. Mesophilic bacteria were isolated from water samples collected from 25 schools. Technical reports statements on water potability were available in 20.5% of schools only and 18.8% of schools were supplied with water stored in tanks under appropriate conditions. It is crucial to establish routines for monitoring drinking water potability and the water storage tanks cleaning for providing high quality water to students and school staffs. |
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