THE MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF PRIVATE WATER-SUPPLIES

This paper provides a detailed assessment of the microbiological quali ty of a selection of private water supplies. Samples were taken from 9 1 supplies and analyzed for total coliforms, faecal coliforms and faec al streptococci. The microbiological quality of the samples was genera lly poor, with almost 50% of the supplies failing to meet the required standards on at least one occasion. Given the high level of sanitary microbiological failures, there is the possibility that harmful microo rganisms could be present and a significant risk to health cannot be d iscounted.