Bacteriological Analysis of Drinking Water

from the Water-Refilling Stations of Barangay New Lucban

Reyes, Marc Gabriel G.

Rodriguez, Randal V.
Saguilic, Fhelver
Salcedo, Angelo
Sanchez, Peter Dominic
Sobremonte, Rhondale G.
Tangonan, Jerkyns
Tejada, Dan Emanuel
Trinidad, Gerald Martin
Valdez, Neil Pako
Visperas, Jhomarie

BSME – I

2342 Thursday 7:30 – 10:30

December 5, 2019
 INTRODUCTION

Discussion

The main purpose of the study is to determine the presence or absence of the Total coliform
and E. coli and the estimated heterotrophic plate count that indicates the measurement of the degree
of pollution and sanitary quality of the water supply. Despite determining the estimated
heterotrophic plate count according to the world health organization that the HPC results are not
an indicator of water safety and, as such, should not be used as an indicator of potential adverse
human health effects. But rather by determining the presence of the total coliform and E. coli the
assurance of determining the cleanliness of the water assured.

Our results revealed two water samples having a presence of Total coliform while two of
which had an absence of Total coliform. The presence of E. coli on all of the samples collected
were not found. Even if determining the estimated heterotrophic plate count (HPC) was not
advisable by the World Health Organization we still tested its total amount within each sample to
determine if the sample where it was collected can be a possible breeding ground for coliforms
such as E. coli. The data gathered within the samples had less than 500 CFU/mL with sample C
having the highest estimated HCP and sample A having the lowest estimated HCP.

Problem Statement

Generally, this study entitled “Bacteriological Analysis of Drinking Water

from the Water-Refilling Stations of Barangay New Lucban” aims to test the water quality
produced by water-refilling stations of the barangay in order to provide convenience and safety to
the residents of the said barangay.

Specifically, it seeks to answer the question:

How may the drinking water in each refilling station be described in terms of the presence of:

a. Total Coliform
b. Thermotolerant Coliform/ E. Coli
c. Estimated Heterotrophic Plate
 METHODOLOGY

In this section, the researchers discussed the research design, sample technique, data
gathering tools, data gathering procedures.

Research Design

The study made use of qualitative experimental type of research in the bacteriological analysis of
drinking water from the water-refilling station.

Population of the study

Researchers made use of drinking water that was collected in water-refilling station in
barangay New Lucban, Baguio City. The study only focuses on the Bacteriological analysis of
certain bacteria including coliform and thermotolerant coliform/E.coli.

Data gathering tools

Researchers used 250ml empty bottled water for the collection of the drinking water
sample.

Data gathering procedures

The researchers collect the drinking water samples from water-refilling stations of New
Lucban, Baguio City. The researchers gathered 250ml from each refilling station as a sample for
the analysis which was acknowledged by Wilson B. Dayao, RMT of Health Services Office,
Baguio City. The analysis was performed by a registered medical technologist from the public
health laboratory of Health Services Office.

The methods used in the bacteriological analysis were Enzyme Substrate Test (Readycult
Coliforms) *and Pour Plate Method (35 C for 48 hours; Nutrient Agar)**.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This section presents the data gathered through the enzyme substrate test and pour plate
method followed by the analysis and discussion of the findings. Data were analyzed to assess the
safety-quality of the drinking water produced by refilling-stations. The water samples were
obtained from 4 different water refilling-stations and were identified as A to D.

Table 1. New Lucban A Result of Analysis

Total Coliform* Thermotolerant Estimated

Tests (MPN/100mL) Coliform/ E. Coli* Heterotrophic Plate
(MPN/100mL) Count (est.
CFU/mL)
STANDARD ABSENT or ABSENT or <500 CFU/mL
VALUES: (PNSDW <1 MPN/100mL <1 MPN/100mL
2017)
RESULTS PRESENT or ABSENT or 23 est. CFU/mL
>1 MPN/100mL <1 MPN/100mL

Remarks: Presence of total Coliform but absence of Thermotolerant Coliform/ E. Coli

Table 2. New Lucban B Result of Analysis

Total Coliform* Thermotolerant Estimated

Tests (MPN/100mL) Coliform/ E. Coli* Heterotrophic Plate
(MPN/100mL) Count (est.
CFU/mL)
STANDARD ABSENT or ABSENT or <500 CFU/mL
VALUES: (PNSDW <1 MPN/100mL <1 MPN/100mL
2017)
RESULTS ABSENT or ABSENT or 136 est. CFU/mL
<1 MPN/100mL <1 MPN/100mL

Remarks: Absence of Coliform Organisms

 Table 3. New Lucban C Result of Analysis

Total Coliform* Thermotolerant Estimated

Tests (MPN/100mL) Coliform/ E. Coli* Heterotrophic Plate
(MPN/100mL) Count (est.
CFU/mL)
STANDARD ABSENT or ABSENT or <500 CFU/mL
VALUES: (PNSDW <1 MPN/100mL <1 MPN/100mL
2017)
RESULTS PRESENT or ABSENT or 186 est. CFU/mL
>1 MPN/100mL <1 MPN/100mL

Remarks: Presence of total Coliform but absence of Thermotolerant Coliform/ E. Coli

Table 4. New Lucban D Result of Analysis
Total Coliform* Thermotolerant Estimated
Tests (MPN/100mL) Coliform/ E. Coli* Heterotrophic Plate
(MPN/100mL) Count (est. CFU/mL)
STANDARD ABSENT or ABSENT or <500 CFU/mL
VALUES: (PNSDW <1 MPN/100mL <1 MPN/100mL
2017)
RESULTS ABSENT or ABSENT or 37 est. CFU/mL
<1 MPN/100mL <1 MPN/100mL

Remarks: Absence of Coliform Organisms

Answer to the Problem Statement

According to the collected data there are varieties of results in every chosen location in
New Lucban, Baguio City. There are standard values that should be followed according to (PNS
DW 2017). For the total coliform it should be less than 1 MPN/100mL for it to be determined
that there is no presence of coliform bacteria on water. In addition, for the Thermotolerant
Coliform/E. Coli it is also stated that it should be less than 1 MPN/100mL for it to be assessed as,
E. Coli not found on water, and lastly for the Estimated Heterotrophic Plate Count (est. CFU/mL)
it should be less than 500 CFU/mL.

As shown in Table 1, the total count of coliform of water from New Lucban A is greater
than 1 MPN/100mL this implies that coliform bacteria is present in the body of the water and for
the E. Coli there is less than 1 MPN/100mL therefore, E. Coli is absent on water for this location.
For the Estimated Heterotrophic Plate Count is 23 est. CFU/mL.

Based from the results on Table 2, the total count of coliform of water from New Lucban
B is less than 1 MPN/100mL which implies that coliform bacteria is absent in the body of the
water and for the E. Coli there is less than 1 MPN/100mL therefore, E. Coli is absent on water fo
r this location. For the Estimated Heterotrophic Plate Count is 136 est. CFU/mL.

According to the data from Table 3 which was collected from New Lucban C, it has a
total count of coliform of water that is greater than 1 MPN/100mL which could be interpreted as
coliform bacteria being present in the body of the water and, for the E. Coli there is less than
1 MPN/100mL therefore, E. Coli is absent on water for this location. For the Estimated Heterotro
phic Plate Count is 186 est. CFU/mL.

As shown in Table 4, the total count of coliform of water found in New Lucban D is less
than 1 MPN/100mL this implies that coliform bacteria is absent in the body of the water and for
the E. Coli there is less than 1 MPN/100mL therefore, E. Coli is absent on water for this location.
For the Estimated Heterotrophic Plate Count is 37 est. CFU/mL.
 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

This chapter includes the implications and conclusions obtained from the results of the
experimentation, and recommendations for further improvements of the future studies.

Conclusion

Based from the results, it can be concluded that out of the 4 water samples from different
water stations, New Lucban A & New Lucban C contains coliform bacteria. The presence of this
bacteria indicates that the well water is contaminated and has the potential to cause disease. Based
on the computation of the data, New Lucban C had the highest estimated amount of HCP while
New Lucban A having the lowest. The estimated amount of HCP from water station C was
reasonable because their water is being acquired from a deep well while the other 3 stations get
their water from a water district.

Furthermore, the absence of Coliform Organisms from the sample New Lucban B and New
Lucban D can now be suggested that both of them are the safest water stations in the Barangay of
New Lucban.

Recommendation

The researchers recommend the following for the convenience of the residents of barangay
and for further improvement of the study:

1. Have the barangay to conduct a regular inspection to the water-refilling stations.

2. For the water-refilling stations to have a regular cleaning of their equipment.
3. Further exploration on aspects regarding the cleanliness or safety-quality of drinking
water produced by water refilling stations.