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Water pollution Testing

Water pollution

There’s no doubt that water is important.  Water covers 70.9% of the earth’s surface, and is vital for all known forms of life which depend on water. As such testing for water pollution to ensure it is fit for use is important!

Life on earth has been distressed by the growing number of ecological problems that are mostly caused by humans themselves (factories, sewage treatment plants, underground mines, oil wells, oil tankers and agriculture, acid deposition from the air, traffic, pollutants that are spread through rivers or pollutants that enter the water through groundwater).  Water pollution takes place when pollutants are released directly or indirectly into bodies of water without sufficient treatment to eliminate damaging compounds.

Water pollution

  • affects drinking water, rivers, lakes and oceans all over the world. This consequently harms human health and the natural environment.
  • is the second most imperative environmental concern along with air pollution.
  • is any change or modification in the chemical, physical or biological quality of water that has a harmful effect on any living thing that drinks or uses or lives (in) it.
  • may not damage our health immediately but can be harmful after long term exposure.
  • can also make water unsuited for the desired use.
  • involves the contamination of surface waters and groundwater which may set off a series of diseases referred to as water pollution diseases.

Water pollution can occur in many ways. There are two main sources of contamination – bacterial and chemical.

Bacterial contamination is usually measured by the fecal coliform levels in the water. Fecal coliform is an indicator organism; it is easily measured and can signal the presence of other harmful bacteria in water. This sort of bacterial contamination can occur as a result of improper water treatment (for example, not chlorinating water from a wastewater treatment plant properly), as a result of rotten or corroded piping allowing bacterial growth in pipes, or as a result of poor water storage.

Polluted water is unfit, unhealthy, and dangerous for drinking and for other consumption processes. It is also not suitable for agricultural and industrial assistance. This water pollution is harmful to human beings, plants, animals, fish and birds. Contaminated water also houses and contains viruses, bacteria, intestinal parasites, and other harmful microorganisms, which can originate waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, and typhoid.

MBL Laboratories can help you to determine the level of bacterial contamination in the water. Our laboratory specializes in bacterial analysis of waters – wastewaters, lakes, rivers, ponds, storm waters, ground waters. If you need to determine the level of fecal coliforms, E.coli, total coliforms, heterotrophic plate count, Legionella or other type of bacteria in the water call our Mississauga office at 905-290-9101 or our Burnaby office at 604-435-6555.

Canadian Air Quality Testing Laboratory

Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories (MBL) is a leading commercial Canadian air quality testing laboratory in North America. Serving mainly the Canadian market, MBL specializes in lab analysis of air and surface samples for fungi (yeasts and mold) and bacteria. MBL is accredited by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA). Routine tests at MBL include:

  •  Bacteria testing: All environmental bacteria including coliforms testing, E. coli testing and Legionella testing
  • Mold testing: Culturable air samples collected using BioCassette, Andersen, SAS, RCS, etc.
  • Mold testing: Direct Microscopic Examination including tape, bulk, swab, water and soil samples
  • Mold testing: Spore trap (or non-viable) samples such as Air-O-Cell, BioAire, and Micro5 cassettes, Allergenco, Burkard and BioSIS slides.
  • Algae: Water samples, etc.

For more information on our air quality testing laboratory or for a complete list of  microbiological tests performed at Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories, please call our Ontario, Mississauga Office at 905-290-9101 or the British Columbia, Burnaby Office at 604-435-6555.

MBL, your indoor air quality testing laboratory. 

Is There a Difference Between Total Microbe Test and Total Coliform Test?

Question: Is there a difference between total microbe test and a total coliform test. What do the following results mean as far as safe drinking water is concerned, (5-10)(10-20)(400-500) (800-1000) Colony forming units(CFUs) of aerobic bacteria?

Thank you.

Answer: There is a difference between total microbes test and total coliform test. The former is a non-specific test for everything including the coliforms (if they are present). This test is commonly referred to as Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) or Total Aerobic Plate Count. HPC does not give an indication of the types of organisms present or their sources. The total coliform test is designed to detect bacteria belonging to the coliform group.

I am not sure whether the results above were CFUs per litre or per 100 mL. Assuming these were per 100 mL of water the first set of results would be considered insignificant provided coliforms were not present. The second two sets of results suggests the water is either not properly treated or is getting contaminated after treatment.

Below are the Health Canada Microbiological Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.

Guidelines for microbiological parameters

Currently available detection methods do not allow for the routine analysis of all microorganisms that could be present in inadequately treated drinking water. Instead, microbiological quality is determined by testing drinking water for Escherichia coli, a bacterium that is always present in the intestines of humans and other animals and whose presence in drinking water would indicate faecal contamination of the water.

Bacteriological guidelines

Escherichia coli

The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) of Escherichia coli in public, semi-public, and private drinking water systems is none detectable per 100 mL.

Testing for E. coli should be carried out in all drinking water systems. The number, frequency, and location of samples for E. coli testing will vary according to the type and size of the system and jurisdictional requirements.

Total coliforms

The MAC of total coliforms in water leaving a treatment plant in a public system and throughout semi-public and private supply systems is none detectable per 100 mL.

For distribution systems in public supplies where fewer than 10 samples are collected in a given sampling period, no sample should contain total coliform bacteria. In distribution systems where greater than 10 samples are collected in a given sampling period, no consecutive samples from the same site or not more than 10% of samples should show the presence of total coliform bacteria.

Testing for total coliforms should be carried out in all drinking water systems. The number, frequency, and location of samples for total coliform testing will vary according to the type and size of the system and jurisdictional requirements.

Heterotrophic plate count

No MAC is specified for heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria in water supplied by public, semipublic, or private drinking water systems. Instead, increases in HPC concentrations above baseline levels are considered undesirable.

Emerging pathogens

No MAC for current or emerging bacterial waterborne pathogens has been established. Current bacterial waterborne pathogens include those that have been previously linked to gastrointestinal illness in human populations. Emerging bacterial waterborne pathogens include, but are not limited to, Legionella, Mycobacterium avium complex, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Helicobacter pylori.

Protozoa

Although Giardia and Cryptosporidium can be responsible for severe and, in some cases, fatal gastrointestinal illness, it is not possible to establish MACs for these protozoa in drinking water at this time. Routine methods available for the detection of cysts and oocysts suffer from low recovery rates and do not provide any information on their viability or human infectivity. Nevertheless, until better monitoring data and information on the viability and infectivity of cysts and oocysts present in drinking water are available, measures should be implemented to reduce the risk of illness as much as possible. If the presence of viable, human-infectious cysts or oocysts is known or suspected in source waters, or if Giardia or Cryptosporidium has been responsible for past waterborne outbreaks in a community, a treatment and distribution regime and a watershed or wellhead protection plan (where feasible) or other measures known to reduce the risk of illness should be implemented. Treatment technologies in place should achieve at least a 3-log reduction in and/or inactivation of cysts and oocysts, unless source water quality requires a greater log reduction and/or inactivation.

Viruses

Although enteric viruses can be responsible for severe and, in some cases, fatal illnesses, it is not possible to establish MACs for enteric viruses in drinking water at this time. Treatment technologies and watershed or wellhead protection measures known to reduce the risk of waterborne outbreaks should be implemented and maintained if source water is subject to faecal contamination or if enteric viruses have been responsible for past waterborne outbreaks. Where treatment is required, treatment technologies should achieve at least a 4-log reduction and/or inactivation of viruses.

For more details on Canadian Guidelines for drinking water click Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.

What’s The Chance Of Getting A Positive Result For Legionella Tests?

Legionella Tests Question: Hi, I am a student working on an environmental research project on Legionella tests. I’m considering to have some water sample tested for Legionella species especially Legionella pneumophila. From your experience, what is the chance of getting a positive result for the Legionella tests? How much does the tests cost, for both PCR and culturable methods?

Thank you for your attention.

Answer: Legionella species are ubiquitous in natural and artificial water environments worldwide. They survive in a wide range of environmental conditions. Chances of getting positive results for Legionella tests from water depends on the following:

  • The Source of water. Legionella species thrive at temperatures between 20 °C and 50 °C. Therefore, the bacteria are rarely found in municipal water supplies. They tend to colonize warm water systems and point-of-use devices, particularly hot-water systems.
  • Isolation method. Legionella species are usually a very minor component of the total bacterial population in environmental samples and are rarely present in high numbers. Thus, it’s possible to get negative Legionella tests results if the bacteria in the sample were not concentrated prior to analysis.
  • Concentration: Legionella may be present in concentrations too low to be detected using culture methods.
Legionella tests
Legionella test

The cost of Legionella tests depends on the level of identification required. There are many labs that carry out Legionella tests but some if not most are not accredited.  To minimize false-positive results for Legionella tests, it’s important to use a qualified accredited laboratory.

Mold & Bacteria Consulting Laboratories (MBL) performs several Legionella tests every year. Currently we use cultural methods for Legionella identification. We’re accredited by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA) to ISO/IEC 17025:2005. MBL is also certified in the analysis of Legionella bacteria by the prestigious Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation (ELITE) program of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For pricing please call 905-290-9101 in Ontario.

Health Hazards in Pools, Hot Tubs and Spas

Pools, hot tubs and spas occasionally get contaminated with harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium avium, Streptococcus and Salmonella. These bacteria are known to cause serious diseases in humans such as infection of the skin, eyes, ears, hair follicles, intestines and urinary tract.

More serious illnesses are the Legionaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever acquired from inhaling airborne Legionella cells. This occurs when Legionella becomes airborne by way of aerosol mists produced in spas and hot tubs.

Legionella bacteria are able to survive in low temperatures, but thrive at temperatures between 20oC and 45oC. Legionella cannot survive at temperatures of 60oC and above.

Salmonella food poisoning and symptoms

Salmonella food poisoning has been a growing concern in recent news. It has frequently lead to recalls of beef, salads and organic products and, even peanut butter products. Salmonella food poisoning occurs when one eats raw or undercooked foods such meat, poultry, eggs or egg products. Properly cooked food can get contaminated with Salmonella if […]

Legionella pneumophila – Guidelines for Laboratory Interpretation

Legionella pneumophila is a Gram negative, aerobic bacteria that is characterized as an opportunistic pathogen. It is the cause of Legionnaires’ Disease, a severe form of pneumonia and, it is the cause of Pontiac fever, a non-pneumonic form of L. pneumophila infection. Legionella spp.’s mode of transmission is through aerosols or aspiration of contaminated water. The Public Health […]

The Indoor Mold Is An Early Warning Device

The mold (or mould, in the Queen’s English) has been the victim of a bad press. Mention the word and it conjures up an image of something rotting or in the process of decomposition. And yet, were it not for the mold that inspired the discovery of penicillin millions of lives would have been lost. […]