Journal article
H2S paper strip method - A bacteriological test for faecal coliforms in drinking water at various temperatures
Water Science & Technology, Vol.40(2), pp.85-90
2000
Abstract
Epidemics arising from waterborne diseases are a global health problem. Faecal contamination of drinking water is the main cause of these outbreaks. According to WHO (1996) for drinking water to be safe, a 100 ml sample should not contain any coliform bacteria. The standard methods currently used for routine testing have many limitations especially when applied in remote areas. The H2S method has been developed as an on-site, inexpensive and easy to use method to test drinking water for remote and rural areas. The present work analyses the reliability of the H2S method for detecting faecal contamination in drinking water. The minimum level of faecal coliforms that could be detected and the incubation period required at various levels of contamination were studied. The range of temperatures at which the method was effective and the incubation period required at various temperatures were also determined. The H2S method was found to be able to detect contamination down to a level of 1 CFU/100 ml of coliform bacteria. Although the H2S method could be used at a temperature range of 20 to 44oC, temperatures between 28 to 37oC gave faster results. An incubation period of only 24 hours was required at 37oC, which was found to be the most suitable incubation temperature. The incubation period increased with a decrease or increase in temperature.
Details
- Title
- H2S paper strip method - A bacteriological test for faecal coliforms in drinking water at various temperatures
- Authors/Creators
- J. Pillai (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityK. Mathew (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityR. Gibbs (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityG. Ho (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
- Publication Details
- Water Science & Technology, Vol.40(2), pp.85-90
- Publisher
- International Water Association Publishing
- Identifiers
- 991005545011707891
- Copyright
- © 1999 International Association on Water Quality
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Environmental Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.246 Diarrheal Diseases
- 1.246.1380 Water Sanitation
- Web Of Science research areas
- Engineering, Environmental
- Environmental Sciences
- Water Resources
- ESI research areas
- Environment/Ecology