Contamination of waterborne parasites at water treatment plants and a gravity-feed system: a highlight on water safety for urban and rural communities in Kuching, Sarawak

Tahar, Ahmad Syatir and Bilung, Lesley Maurice and Apun, Kasing and Richard, Reena Leeba and Hashim, Hashimatul Fatma and Nillian, Elexson and Seng, Lau and Lim, Yvonne Ai-Lian (2022) Contamination of waterborne parasites at water treatment plants and a gravity-feed system: a highlight on water safety for urban and rural communities in Kuching, Sarawak. International Journal of Biology and Biomedical Engineering, 16. 298 – 310. ISSN 19984510, DOI https://doi.org/10.46300/91011.2022.16.37.

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Abstract

Waterborne parasites, particularly Cryptosporidium and Giardia, are emerging pathogens implicating the safety level of drinking water globally. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution pattern of waterborne parasites in raw and treated water at urban and rural water treatment plants and untreated water from gravity-feed system in Kuching, Sarawak. This study focused on water treatment plants (four urban and two rural) and Bong rural community that utilise gravity-feed system in Kuching, Sarawak. A total of 69 raw and treated water samples were collected and processed before being used in detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia using Aqua-Glo™ G/C Direct and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole stains, as well as other parasites that were detected using Lugol’s iodine staining. Parameters which were temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, conductivity, faecal coliform of the water as well as rainfall intensity were determined. Correlation of the parameters with distribution of the waterborne parasites was analysed. Out of 69 water samples collected across all localities, 25 samples were contaminated with waterborne parasites with varying waterborne parasite concentration in the water samples. The presence of waterborne parasites in the raw and treated water of water treatment plants in this study signifies public health threats do exist despite being conventionally treated. This study also highlights that the gravity-feed system which is commonly depended by rural communities in Malaysia may facilitate waterborne parasitic infections. © 2022 North Atlantic University Union NAUN. All rights reserved.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information: Cited by: 1; All Open Access, Bronze Open Access
Uncontrolled Keywords: Cryptosporidium; Giardia; Gravity-feed system; Water supply
Subjects: R Medicine
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine > Parasitology Deparment
Depositing User: Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim
Date Deposited: 18 Nov 2024 01:49
Last Modified: 18 Nov 2024 01:49
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/43820

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