Quality of Bottled Drinking Water Distributed in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand

บทคัดย่อ

In this study, bacteriological qualities and some qualities in terms of pH, odour, appearance, label information (name of manufacturer and location of product), coliform bacteria, fecal coliform bacteria and E. coli of clear and opaque plastic bottled drinking water samples distributed in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand, were investigated. The results showed that the pH values of the tested samples were in a range of 5.5-7.5. Complete label information with respect to the manufacturer, the manufacturing name and expired/manufacturing date appeared in 29 samples, while 18 samples did not show expired date/manufacturing date on their labels. Coliform bacteria and fecal coliform bacteria of the water samples was less than 1.8 MPN/100 mL and none of E. coli was found in all samples. However, one sample (Sample 1) of brand KO4 was found to have all types of indicator bacteria with 23, 2.0 and < 1.8 MPN/100 mL, respectively. One sample (Sample 6) of brand KO5 was contaminated with both coliform and fecal coliform bacteria for 49 and 6.1 MPN/100 mL, respectively, and no detection of E. coli. Indeed, assessment of bottled drinking water samples distributed in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand, based on some physical and microbiological standards for drinking water in sealed container set by Ministry of Public Health of Thailand revealed that the tested samples met the standard for 19 samples (40.42%) from 47 samples.