Journal of Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences

Background: Provision of safe water and sanitation is important for the health and welfare of the community. Improper conditions in the transmission and distribution of water, the most important causes of secondary pollution and water-borne disease outbreaks is. This study investigates quality of drinking water s bacteriological characteristics coming from water cooler units in Shahid Beheshti Medical Sciences and Shahid Beheshti Universities.

Material & methods: This study is cross sectional and a systematic random sample of water cooler s units in Training- based places of medical Universities and Beheshti University were taken. From the total 13 water cooler were selected. Total coliform، E.coli coliform، heterotrophic bacteria (HPC) ، residual chlorine and pH were measured. Collected Data were assessed by using statistical methods or software’s like excel and spss.

Results: Results showed that the range of residual chlorine in water before arriving to water cooler is 0.8- 0.4 and after water cooler is 0.6- 0.2 ppm.Also, the amount of pH after and before water cooler has been in domain of 7.4- 7.2. In the cultured water samples before and after water cooler، Heterotrophic Bactria has grown and the number of colonies in both was in the scope of 100- >1000 cfu/100ml.According to the results coliform group bacterias have never been seem in none of the cultured samples. Accordingly HPC indicator before water cooler and after that has been 766.67±650.64 cfu/100ml and 1250±355.55 cfu/100ml respectively.

Conclusions: Results showed that there is problity of presence of organism growth in piping system and water coolers, so that in both Heterotrophic Bactria Have grown. Also decrease in the residual chlorine after water cooler in relation to before shows contamination in water coolers even in small amount. However proper maintenance of cooler machine, proper connection to the piping system and absence of any cracks or leaks in the system was not affectless.