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Microbial Indicators and Their Use for Monitoring Drinking Water Quality—A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaotong Wen

    (School of Public Health, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China)

  • Feiyu Chen

    (Center for disease control and prevention in Dongxiang district, Fuzhou 331800, China)

  • Yixiang Lin

    (School of Public Health, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China)

  • Hui Zhu

    (Jiangxi Province Center for disease control and prevention, Nanchang 330006, China)

  • Fang Yuan

    (Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

  • Duyi Kuang

    (Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

  • Zhihui Jia

    (School of Public Health, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China)

  • Zhaokang Yuan

    (School of Public Health, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China)

Abstract

An increase in the incidence of water-borne human diseases, such as diarrhea and emesis, has occurred due to drinking polluted water. These water-borne diseases can lead to death, if correct treatment is not provided. Assuring that drinking water quality is safe has been a crucial challenge for public health. Water contamination with pathogenic microorganisms represents a seriously increased threat to human health. Currently, different microorganisms are being used as the primary indicator to assess water quality total coliform and Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) being the most common. However, increasing the occurrence of water-borne illness from sources deemed safe by the microbial standard criteria has raised the question—are these microbial indicators reliable and sensitive enough to ensure water quality? Currently, other microorganisms including bacteria, enteric virus, and protozoa are being tested and used in different countries as alternative indicators to monitor water quality. It is necessary to study the diverse water quality indicator systems used throughout the world and their efficacy with the present water quality. Although water quality standards suggest adding pathogenic microorganisms such as enteric virus as an indicator, China only uses pathogenic E. coli , protozoa. Pin-pointing the shortage of the current water quality indicator system in China is crucial in order to propose changes in future water quality indicator systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaotong Wen & Feiyu Chen & Yixiang Lin & Hui Zhu & Fang Yuan & Duyi Kuang & Zhihui Jia & Zhaokang Yuan, 2020. "Microbial Indicators and Their Use for Monitoring Drinking Water Quality—A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:6:p:2249-:d:332035
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Łukasz Jałowiecki & Jakub Hubeny & Monika Harnisz & Grażyna Płaza, 2021. "Seasonal and Technological Shifts of the WHO Priority Multi-Resistant Pathogens in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant and Its Receiving Surface Water: A Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
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    4. Junya Wu, 2024. "The Role of Affordability on the Adoption of Residential Point-of-Use Drinking Water Filtering Systems in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-15, January.

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