The bacteriological examination of water samples from houses of cases and contacts of typhoid fever and dysentery and from public eating places

ABSTRACT

In this report, we are presenting, in tabulated form, the bacteriological findings of water collected in the houses of cases and contacts of typhoid fever and dysentery, from faucets from which they take their water supply and in public eating places.From the bacteriological findings, 75.06 of the water supply collected from the houses of contacts of typhoid cases and dysentery, 22.43 of water faucets from which those contacts take their water, and 11.98 of the samples of water from containers (pitchers and bottles) in public eating places may be considered potentially dangerous.In spite of the excellent sanitary quality of the water supply of the city, the unsanitary practices aforementioned do not eliminate the possibility that drinking water in the City of Manila still remains a constant danger to public health. It remains to be a factor in the endemicity and occasional outbreaks of enteric infections.The proposal to extend water services to every house is a sound one. It should be pushed through The education of the public in handling drinking water should be emphasized. The use of questionable containers, both in houses and public eating places, should be discouraged. Automatic cooling fountains should be installed in public eating places.Faucet water in the slum districts, which are away from the main lines, should be examined frequently for bacteria. The residual chlorine of drinking water should be determined. Negative pressure in water lines should be remedied. Proper disinfection of pipes for replacements and extension services should be required. (Conclusion)