Total Coliform and Escherichia Coli Detection in Drinking Water Samples Obtained From

Three Water Filter Dispensers Using Chromogenic Substrate (Presence/Absence Method)

Lyle Precious L. Cinco

1V-Moses
Pilgrim Christian College

Abstract: One of the several water treatment methods and techniques that have been made in
order to make water safe to drink is using portable water filters which remove some types of
infectious agents from drinking water. This study aimed to determine whether Total Coliform
and E. coli content is present in water from three different water dispensers with mineral stone
water filter cartridge namely, M-bio, Water Quantity, and Keosan water filter using
Chromogenic Substrate test (Presence-Absence Method) or not, regardless of the factors that the
water dispensers may possess. Also, it determines the implications of E. coli and Total Coliform
to human health. The study covered three 100 mL water samples, each from the three water filter
dispensers were tested for E. coli and total coliform and its results were compared to the
Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water, Dept. of Health 2007 (PNSDW). Based on the
Laboratory results, all water samples from three water dispensers were positive in Total Coliform
test and all were negative in the E. coli test. With these results, it has been concluded that the
water from water dispensers with mineral stone water filter cartridge is not drinkable since it has
been proven that, based on the conformance to PNSDW, the results of analysis on Total
Coliform and E. coli do not pass the standards of drinking water.

Keywords: Escherichia coli (E. coli), Chromogenic Substrate Test, Microbial, Microbiological
quality, Potable water, Standards in drinking water, Tap water, Total coliform bacteria, Water
filter.

1.0 Introduction
Water is essential to sustain life, and a satisfactory supply, which is adequate, safe and
accessible, that must be available to all. One needs water in order to survive and according to
World Health Organization (WHO), water intended for human consumption should be both safe
and wholesome. With this, several water treatment methods and techniques have been made in
order to make water safe to drink. One of these techniques is using portable water filters which
remove some types of infectious agents from drinking water (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2006). As observed in the country, some people who cannot afford drinking water,
such as mineral water, that can be delivered and supplied to their homes use the dispenser with
mineral stone water filter cartridges instead. With this, they can save a lot of money since all it
requires is to pour tap water into the dispenser to be filtered for drinking.
However, some have been questioning whether drinking water from the said filters is
potable or not. This gave the researcher the push to undertake this research study. The
researchers primary goal is to determine whether the water that has undergone filtration using
the mineral stone water filter cartridge is microbially safe in terms of total coliform and
Escherichia coli (E coli), which are commonly used as microbial indictors of drinking water
quality, regardless of the factors that the water dispensers may possess, such as length of usage
time, structure of the water dispensers and filters. It is hoped that this study would make the
public be aware that exposure to disease-carrying pathogens potentially indicated by the presence
of coliform bacteria and E. coli may cause serious infections to exposed people who consume
water that is not microbially safe.

Conceptual Framework
This research study contains independent variables and the dependent variable of the
study. The water filter dispensers that were used in this study as independent variable all contain
a bed of mineral stones. The water that was used in the dispenser was tap water. Three 100 mL
water samples from each of the three water filter dispensers namely, M-bio, Water Quantity, and
Keosan water filter dispenser were tested for E.coli and Total Coliform content/contamination
analysis since E.coli and Total Coliform are the most common microbial indicators in assuring
that water is microbially safe for drinking.
The presence of Total Coliform and E. coli indicates that your water supply may be
vulnerable to contamination by more harmful microorganisms. E. coli and Total Coliform
bacteria content served as the dependent variables of the study. E. coli and total coliform was
then compared to the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water, Dept. of Health 2007.
 Water samples from:

1) M-bio water dispenser

2) Water Quantity water The presence or absence of Total

Coliform and E. coli
dispenser

3) Keosan water dispenser

Independent variable Dependent variable

Figure 1. Schematic Diagram of Independent and Dependent Variables

2.0 Brief Literature Review

Water is one of the basic human needs for one to survive in this world. Each person on
Earth requires at least 20 to 50 liters of clean, safe water a day for drinking, cooking, and simply
keeping themselves clean. Other than that, water is essential to sustain life, and a satisfactory
supply, which is adequate, safe and accessible, that must be available to all. According to World
Health Organization (WHO), water intended for human consumption should be both safe and
wholesome and free from pathogenic agents.
One way to determine whether water is potable or not is to have the assurance that water
is microbially safe for drinking. Microorganisms are found everywhere in our environment. They
are common in the air, soil, water and in the habitats of our daily lives. A few microorganisms
called pathogens can cause disease in humans. Whether or not a pathogen is successful in
causing disease is related to the health of the individual and the state of his or her immune
system, as well as to the number of pathogen cells required to make the person ill (Michigan
Water Science Center 2007).
Assurance that water is microbially safe for drinking has traditionally been determined by
measuring bacterial indicators of water quality, most commonly total coliforms and Escherichia
coli (E. coli). For more than 100 years, the microbial safety of drinking water has primarily been
determined by testing for bacterial indicators of faecal pollution, mainly Escherichia coli (E
coli) and total coliforms. These indicators are used to assess the potential public health risk of
drinking water, and their presence or absence is key elements of most drinking water quality
guidelines (National Health and Medical Research Council, n.d.).
The presence of E. coli provides evidence of recent faecal contamination, and detection
should lead to consideration of further action, which could include further sampling and
investigation of potential sources such as inadequate treatment or breaches in distribution system
integrity (Dr. Stevens, Melita. et al. 2003). The Total coliform is a microbial contaminant whose
presence is a potential indicator that disease-causing organisms may be in tap water. It can be
used as an indicator of treatment effectiveness and to assess the cleanliness and integrity of
distribution systems and the potential presence of biofilms (World Health Organization, 2008).
If E. coli is present in the water, it means there has been recent faecal contamination and
other pathogens may be present. Investigate the source of the bacteria and take corrective
measures. If E.coli is absent, but only total coliforms are present, it could mean that a layer of
bacteria may have developed within your well or plumbing system. This layer of bacteria is
called a biofilm. It may also mean that surface water may be getting into your well which
increases the risk of animal waste contaminating your water sooner or it means that later your
well water may come from an aquifer that contains bacteria which could happen when
groundwater comes from a shallow source (New Nouveau Brunswick, n.d.).

3.0 Methodology
The design that was used in this research study is the descriptive design because it is a
scientific method that involves observing and describing the behaviour of a subject without
influencing it in any way. The researcher collected the water samples from Water Quantity
Dispenser at the Cinco residence and Keosan Water dispenser at Lim residence, located at Julio
Pacana St. Puntod Cagayan de Oro City. The researcher got the water sample from M-bio
dispenser at the Lopez residence, located at Manuel Vega St. Consolacion Cagayan de Oro City.
The sampling used in this research study is convenience sampling since this sampling
method in which units are selected based on easy access or availability. Three 100 mL water
samples were obtained, each from the three water filter dispensers with mineral stone water filter
cartridge. The water samples were then tested for E. coli and Total Coliform at the laboratory in
First Analytical Services and Technical Cooperative or F.A.S.T. laboratory, Recto St. corner
Camp Alagar Road, Brgy. Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City Philippines 9000. The method used for
testing of Total Coliform and E. coli is the Chromogenic Substrate Test (Presence-Absence)
which is a method that is very accurate in determining the presence or absence of both coliform
and E.coli bacteria.
During data gathering, the researcher first sent a letter of permission to the High School
Principal for the data gathering approval. After, the researcher refilled the water filters with tap
water and waited until the water is filtered and ready to be collected. Before obtaining the
samples from the water filters, the researcher first cleaned the inside of the mouth of the faucet of
the water dispenser by using cotton balls clamped by a pair of tweezers and dipped into 70%
solution of Isopropyl alcohol. Then the researcher purchased a new 350 mL (or not less than 100
mL) mineral bottled water that was never been opened. The researcher then emptied the bottle.
The researcher directly refilled the bottle with the water from the water filter, closed the cap
tightly then labeled the bottle with its corresponding sample number. The researcher directly
placed the bottle inside a portable cooler with ice inside and brought the ice cooler and turned
over the water samples directly to FAST laboratory for Chromogenic Substrate test (Presence-
Absence). After four days, the researcher got and received the test results from FAST laboratory.
4.0 Discussion of Results
Water Sample Total Coliform
per 100 mL
Sample 1 Positive
(M-bio)
Sample 2 Positive
(Water Quantity)
Sample 3 Positive
(Keosan)

Table 1: Results of Analysis on Total Coliform

Table 1 indicates the results of Chromogenic Substrate test (Presence-Absence) of the

water samples that the researcher sent to F.A.S.T. Laboratory. The table showed that all samples
were positive in Total Coliform test. Clearly, all water samples contain Total Coliform and
according to F.A.S.T. Laboratory, all samples have exceeded the standards of Total Coliform
based on the PNSDW. This may mean that disease-causing organisms may be in the water.

Water Sample E. coli

per 100 mL
Sample 1 Negative
(M-bio)
Sample 2 Negative
(Water Quantity)
Sample 3 Negative
(Keosan)

Table 2: Results of Analysis on E. coli

 Table 2 shows that the water samples that the researcher sent to FAST Laboratory are
negative in E. coli test. This means that all samples do not contain E. coli. This may also mean
that there is no faecal contamination in the water.

Water Sample Conformance

To PNSDW
Sample 1 FAILED
(M-bio)
Sample 2 FAILED
(Water Quantity)
Sample 3 FAILED
(Keosan)

Table 3: Conformance to the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water, Dept. of Health 2007

Based on the conformance to PNSDW shown in table 3, the results exceeded the
standards for drinking water. With this, we can say that all water samples did not pass to be
drinkable.

5.0 Conclusions and Implications

In conclusion, this research study has been successful in achieving to answer its statement
of the problem which is to determine whether Total Coliform and E. coli content is present in all
water samples from the water dispensers namely, M-bio, Water Quantity, and Keosan water filter
dispensers or not
Therefore, as found from the test results of FAST Laboratory, the research assumptions
were realized. All water samples contain Total Coliform and all do not contain E. coli as
determined by Chromogenic Substrate test (Presence-Absence). With these results, the water
from the water dispensers with mineral stone water filter cartridge is not drinkable since it has
been proven that, based on the conformance to PNSDW, the results of analysis on Total
Coliform and E. coli did not pass the standards for drinking water. According to National Testing
Laboratories, these results may mean that a layer of bacteria called biofilm may have developed
within the plumbing system, where the tap water was obtained from.
 Based on the findings, the following implications were outlined. People who currently use
the water dispensers should make their preventive measures, such as periodic cleaning water
filters and dispensers, because water that obtained from the water filter dispensers may contain
bacteria that may cause diseases to the family. Future researchers should also study the cause of
bacteria content, specifically E. coli and total coliform, in water before it was filtered and
determining the factors of the dispensers, such as length of usage time, structure of the water
dispensers and filters, that may have cause the contamination of water. The researchers may also
study concerning about an alternative water filter that can prevent bacteria accumulation in water
and which can benefit to the community since it can be a money-saver. They could also propose
a study on the effects that the water dispensers have been causing to the users. They may also
consider the microbiological quality of the water from the plumbing system.

6.0 References

Run for Right to Drink Safe Water. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 22 August, 2011.

New Nouveau Brunswick. Facts on Drinking Water. (n.d.).

Department of Health: Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water 2007. Manila: Office of the Secretary, 09
March, 2007.

Dr. Melita Stevens, Dr. Nicholas Ashbolt and David Cunliffe. Review of Coliforms As Microbial Indicators of
Drinking Water Quality: Recommendations to Change the Use of Coliforms as Microbial Indicators of Drinking
Water Quality. Australian Government: National Health and Medical Research Council., April 2003.

National Testing Laboratories. Testing for Bacteria. New Delhi. (n.d.)

World Health Organization. Guidelines for drinking-water quality [electronic resource]: incorporating 1st and 2nd
addenda, Vol.1, Recommendations. 3rd ed. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data.,
2008.

Washington State Department of Health. (n.d.). Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water. Retrieved from
http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/DrinkingWater/Contaminants/Coliform.aspx

National Academy of Sciences. (2006). Why Is Safe Water Essential?. Retrieved from http://www.drinking-
water.org/html/en/Overview/Why-is-Safe-Water-Essential.html

Michigan Water Science Center. (2007, December). Fecal Indicator Bacteria and Sanitary Water Quality. Retrieved
from http://mi.water.usgs.gov/h2oqual/BactHOWeb.html
World Health Organization. (2010). Water Sanitation Health. Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/arsenic2/en/index1.html

Washtenaw Country Michigan. (1998, September). Coliform Bacteria and Drinking Water. Retrieved from
http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/environmental_health/wells_septic/well_septic_pdf/eh_colifor
mfactsheet.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006, May 27). Water Treatment Methods. Retrieved from
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/water-treatment.htm
Appendices
A. Result of Analysis from F.A.S.T. Laboratory
B. Pictures of Documentation

M-Bio Water Filter Dispenser

Water Quantity Water Filter Dispenser

Keosan Water Filter Dispenser