Water Microbiology

1. If I have a well at home, should I drink its water?

The good quality of drinking water is essential to our health. All private sources of water supply can be a threat to your health unless they are properly treated and protected. These can easily become contaminated with bacteria, parasites and viruses or other substances.

Often, people cannot determine whether their water is safe, because contamination may not be evident through the smell, taste or colour of the water. Unlike public supply, many private sources of water supply are not treated to remove contamination. Therefore, if you have a hole or a well full of apparently “good” water, it does not mean that it is safe to drink it.

2. What is the origin of bacteria in drinking water?

Human and animal fecal contaminations are the primary sources. These sources include grounds where animal droppings are deposited, such as manures and crop land. Other sources are aseptic tanks discharge, flooding or seepage.

3. What are fecal coliforms and E. coli?

Human and animal fecal contaminations are primary sources. These sources include grounds where animal droppings are deposited, such as manures and crop land. Other sources are aseptic tanks discharge, flooding or seepage.

4. Are the pathogenic microorganisms likely to cause diseases?

Polluted water contains numerous microorganisms capable of causing diseases in humans. These are viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths. These microorganisms originate from either infected people or carriers. The latter can cause intestinal infections, dysenteries, hepatitis, typhoid fever, cholera and other diseases.

However, these diseases are not limited to organisms existing in water, there are other factors not associated with drinking water. Intestinal infections and dysentery are generally considered minor health problems. They may, however, be fatal for children, the elderly and the sick.

5. What is Clostridium perfringens?

Clostridium perfringens is a bacterium used as an indicator of water pollution of remote or intermittent fecal origin, due to the long residence periods and survival conditions of its spores, which are resistant to chlorine disinfection.

6. What do I need to perform a microbiological analysis of a water sample?

You must acquire a sterilized container. For that, you will have to go to the laboratory or to a sample collection unit or, if in case you prefer, contact us and we will send the appropriate containers to you.