Optimizing Affordable Testing Equipment for Nationwide Water Quality Surveys
Date
2025
Authors
Groothof, Sara
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Univeristy of Victoria
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to optimize membrane filtration using the Joint Monitoring Programme’s (JMP) 2nd Generation Lightweight Affordable Manifold (2GLAM), by reducing E. coli colony ""smearing"". The study evaluates the impact of reducing the CompactDry EC plate rehydration volume from 1.0 mL to 0.6 mL, and the impact of using three different filtration discs (plastic 2GLAM, Millipore, and wire mesh).
Conclusions: The proportion of readable plates (plates with no smearing) increased to 100% when the plate rehydration volume was reduced from 1.0 mL to 0.6 mL. A correlation between alternative filtration discs and E. coli colony smearing could not be demonstrated in this study. However, further study on this topic is recommended based on the potential for cost savings."
Description
Keywords
drinking water quality, Escherichia Coli, plastic waste, multiple indicator cluster surveys, MICS, microbial water testing, low-resource contexts