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Considering the ultimate goals for the microbiological water safety monitoring team, it is necessary to research and understand the options available for pathogenic detection in water. Both established microbiological tests and the theoretical “sliding colony counter” method will be evaluated. Upon understanding the cost and efficiency of each method, it will be possible to narrow down the method that can be used as a model for microbial detection for AguaClara's purposes. Understanding the research done by others is vital to saving time in producing the desired detector.
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Introduction Once the water has left the treatment plant, final tests must be done to ensure it is safe to drink. Currently, microbiological water testing is expensive and requires an incubation time of 24-48 hours to show results. A common method the compartmentalized bag test, which is a presence/absence test using E-coli (recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO)) as an indicator. There are other methods that quantify pathogens, giving an exact amount rather than just presence or absence. The problem with any method is that it must be practical, or done without large amounts of resources, as these resources will not be available in Honduras. |
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