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Bacteriological water testing in remote localities
Journal article   Open access

Bacteriological water testing in remote localities

T. Gawthorne, K. Mathew, R. Gibbs, J. Pillai, G. Ho and M. Anda
Journal of Arid Land Studies, Vol.7S, pp.129-132
1998
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Abstract

The Remote Area Developments Group (RADG) has developed a portable, bacteriological water supply test kit for remote communities which do not have their water tested on a regular basis by the Water Corporation. The Colisure P/A test for total coliforms has been selected from a range of methods that were trialled and evaluated. It can be used in remote Aboriginal communities by the Environmental Health Worker or the clinic Health Worker after a small amount of training supported by an RADG video and booklet. Absence of coliforms may not mean an absence of Salmonella. Research is underway on hydrogen sulphide paper strips as a portable test method to accompany the Colisure P/A test. During 1996/97 RADG conducted field trials with 30 remote Aboriginal communities across WA to determine the appropriateness and level of acceptance of the two methods. Parallel testing will be conducted by the Water Corporation and Path Centre to determine their reliability alongside laboratory-tested samples..

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