On-site bacteriological test for potable water

Abstract

Bacteriological water quality from remote communities in Western Australia is difficult to test because of the distance to health laboratories, the need for aseptic sampling conditions, the lack of skilled workers and the high temperatures involved when transporting samples. Kits have been developed that can test for bacteria at the point of sampling. These have the advantage that they are cheaper, less complicated to operate, easier to interpret and take less time to complete than the standard laboratory procedures. The Colilert and Colisure kits were tested, with the aim to produce a video and explanatory brochure that can be used to train people in remote communities. It was concluded that both kits are adequate for the purpose of a portable testing kit, and that the Presence/ Absence format was more suitable for use by the Environmental Health Worker