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Bacterial Water Quality in the Personal Water Bottles of Elementary Students

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Abstract

Background: Samples of drinking water were collected directly from the personal water bottles of students at an elementary school in Calgary, Alberta.

Methods: Total and fecal coliforms and heterotrophic bacteria were enumerated using membrane filtration and agar plate count methods respectively.

Results: The Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines (CWQG) criterion was exceeded for total coliform in 13.3% of 75 samples. Fecal coliform and total heterotrophic criteria were exceeded in 8.9% (of 68 samples) and 64.4% (of 76 samples) respectively.

Findings: The use of personal water bottles for students in elementary classrooms is not recommended.

Résumé

Contexte: Nous avons recueilli des échantillons d’eau potable dans les gourdes à eau des élèves d’une école primaire de Calgary (Alberta).

Méthode: Par filtration sur membrane et au moyen de tests sur plaque à la gélose, nous avons déterminé le nombre total de bactéries et le nombre de coliformes fécaux et de bactéries hétérotrophes.

Résultats: Le seuil fixé dans les Recommandations pour la qualité de l’eau potable au Canada eu égard au nombre total de coliformes a été dépassé dans 13,3 % des 75 échantillons recueillis. Le seuil pour les coliformes fécaux a été dépassé dans 8,9 % des cas (sur 68 échantillons), et celui pour l’ensemble des bactéries hétérotrophes, dans 64,4 % des cas (sur 76 échantillons).

Constatations: L’emploi de gourdes à eau par les élèves du primaire est à éviter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    J. A. Oliphant BSc & A. Chu PhD

  2. Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada

    M. C. Ryan PhD, PGeol, PEng

Authors
  1. J. A. Oliphant BSc
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  2. M. C. Ryan PhD, PGeol, PEng
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  3. A. Chu PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. C. Ryan PhD, PGeol, PEng.

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Oliphant, J.A., Ryan, M.C. & Chu, A. Bacterial Water Quality in the Personal Water Bottles of Elementary Students. Can J Public Health 93, 366–367 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404571

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404571

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