Evaluación de la calidad microbiológica del agua de consumo humano de la comunidad el Quinche

Abstract

Microorganisms present in distribution networks to communities cause infections in humans, due to their use in consumption and personal hygiene. The most frequent bacteria found are: total coliforms, faecal coliforms and parasites. The objective of this research was to evaluate the microbiological quality of water for human consumption in the community of El Quinche, Santa Rosa parish. A quantitative, descriptive and exploratory approach was used for the study. The sampling, handling and conservation processes were carried out according to the parameters established in the Ecuadorian Technical Standard NTE INEN 2 169:98 and the Mexican Standard NMX-AA-042- SCFI-2015. Samples were analysed from 8 specific points of the network, taken in the morning during 3 weeks in order to determine total coliforms, faecal coliforms, through the most probable number method and for Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia parasites using the zinc sulphate flotation technique. It was obtained as a result that 1 of the 8 sampling points presents a minimum amount of total and faecal coliforms (8 NMP/100mL), while there is an absence of parasites, thus complying with the established standard NTE INEN 1108:2020, resulting in water that is suitable for human consumption. In addition, a sowing was carried out on eosin methylene blue agar to subsequently identify the type of microorganism in the VITEK® automated microbiology equipment, where Enterobacter aerogenes was identified.