Indicators of microbial drinking and recreational water quality

Abstract

The microbiological examination of water is used worldwide to monitor and control the quality and safety of various types of water. These include potable water (water intended for drinking or use in food preparation), treated recreational water (swimming pools, spa pools, and hydrotherapy pools), and untreated water used for recreational purposes such as sea, river and lake water. In this study we analyzed 844 potable water samples (tap water – 531, well water – 232, borehole water – 81) collected from different places in Kaunas and Marijampolė districts and recreational water from 72 rivers and lakes which were analyzed every two weeks by membrane filtration. The commonest microbiological tests done on water are for coliform bacteria (Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., Serratia spp., Enterobacter spp.), Escherichia coli (or fecal coliform) and Enterococci (or fecal Streptococcus) by ISO standards.