Microbial Assessment of Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology's (DOSCST) Water System Mati, Davao Oriental: A Basis for Management Intervention

Abstract

This study dealt with the microbial assessment of the water system of Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST). It determined the Most Probable Number (MPN) of coliforms, identifying the genera of coliforms, water consumption, and health-related information among the students, faculty, staff, and management intervention to water supply. The study was conducted in the DOSCST's main campus. Collection of water samples was done on December 2006 and January 2007 Results disclosed that the Most Probable Number (MPN) of coliforms in the water sample ranged from 9, 11, 13, and 16. Thermotolerant bacteria, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumonia were the four (4) genera of coliforms found in the water samples. Thus, water proved to be not suitable for drinking. Evidently, the students (50.70%), faculty (49.98%), and staff (43.33%) consumed the water supply of the college for drinking, washing, cooking, bathing, and watering of plants. The frequency of usage was seldom for students, frequent for the faculty, and most frequent for the staff. Of all the respondents, students (0.3%) and faculty (0.7%) had experienced water-related health problems such as stomach aches and skin rashes. Students had experienced water-related health problems most frequently, while the faculty had experienced them always. On the other hand, the staff had never experienced any water-related health problems.