Version 1
: Received: 3 December 2018 / Approved: 4 December 2018 / Online: 4 December 2018 (09:50:31 CET)
Version 2
: Received: 21 December 2018 / Approved: 21 December 2018 / Online: 21 December 2018 (10:55:39 CET)
Rubino, F.; Corona, Y.; Pérez, J.G.J.; Smith, C. Bacterial Contamination of Drinking Water in Guadalajara, Mexico. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health2019, 16, 67.
Rubino, F.; Corona, Y.; Pérez, J.G.J.; Smith, C. Bacterial Contamination of Drinking Water in Guadalajara, Mexico. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 67.
Rubino, F.; Corona, Y.; Pérez, J.G.J.; Smith, C. Bacterial Contamination of Drinking Water in Guadalajara, Mexico. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health2019, 16, 67.
Rubino, F.; Corona, Y.; Pérez, J.G.J.; Smith, C. Bacterial Contamination of Drinking Water in Guadalajara, Mexico. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 67.
Abstract
In many regions where drinking water supply is intermittent and unreliable, households adapt by storing water in cisterns or rooftop tanks. Both intermittent supply and stored water can be vulnerable to contamination by microorganisms with deleterious health effects. The Guadalajara Metropolitan Area is a rapidly growing urban center with over five million residents where household storage is nearly ubiquitous. This pilot study was conducted in July 2018 to examine the microbiological quality of drinking water in Guadalajara. Samples were tested for free available chlorine residual, total coliform bacteria, and E. coli. A survey on access to water and public perspectives was also conducted. Water exiting rooftop tanks exceeded regulatory limits for total coliform levels in half of the homes studied. Piped water arriving at two homes had total coliform levels that far exceeded regulatory limits. No E. coli were detected in any of the samples. Only 35% of homes had a chlorine residual between the recommended 0.2 and 1.5 mg/L. Many homes reported unpleasant odors and colors. Only 7% of residents drank the piped water. Future studies are needed, especially during April and May when many homes reported a higher disruption to water service.
Keywords
Guadalajara; coliform; intermittent water supply; Colilert, tanks
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Immunology and Microbiology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
