Bacteriological analysis of drinking water sold by water tank trucks

Abstract

Assuring the quality of the supply of water for human consumption is important for public health, especially when delivery of the water is dependent on alternative means, such as tanker trucks. The major concern about this kind of water transport is the risk of contamination. This study therefore evaluated the bacteriological quality of water sold by water trucks that supply the city of Caruaru-PE, Brazil. Ten samples from five trucks were analyzed using the technique of multiple tubes for the identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and coliform, and the pour plate technique for counting heterotrophic bacteria was also used. The results revealed the presence of bacteria groups in most analyzed samples. Delivery time was a factor that increases the rate of contamination. It can be concluded that this type of delivery provides water that does not meet potability requirements and has a high risk of contamination, resulting in water that is unfit for human consumption.