Inadequate water treatment quality as assessed by protozoa removal in Sarawak, Malaysia

Lo, Nguk Ting and Sarker, Mohammad Abul Bashar and Lim, Yvonne Ai Lian and Harun-Or-Rashid, Md and Sakamoto, Jyunnichi (2018) Inadequate water treatment quality as assessed by protozoa removal in Sarawak, Malaysia. Nagoya Journal of Medical Science, 80 (2). pp. 165-174. ISSN 0027-7622, DOI https://doi.org/10.18999/nagjms.80.2.165.

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Abstract

Providing safe drinking-water to human civilization is indispensable; it is one of the most cost-effective means of reducing the disease burden of diarrhea. Unfortunately, water supply quality monitoring from public water treatment plants (WTPs) is often neglected or taken for granted. To determine the produced water quality, WTPs in Sarawak, Malaysia were assessed for their protozoa removal ability. A selfadministered questionnaire based on the regulations in the Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand (DWSNZ) was developed. Optional 10-liter raw water samples were collected from willing WTPs for the detection of protozoan cysts. Routine physical and microbial testing of WTP parameters were also requested for raw water quality overview. Two of the nine assessed WTPs achieved three log credits in the treatment component, one of which belonged to Peninsular Malaysia. No log credits were obtained in the other tested components for any samples. Most of the WTPs employed "Coagulation, Sedimentation, and Filtration" using rapid gravity filters without enhancement (P < 0.05). Giardia cysts were detected in raw water sources used for treatment, and the geographical location was identified as an influencing factor for raw water quality. There is an urgent requirement for active collaboration and holistic approaches to review existing water management policies and interventions. WTPs in Sarawak did not achieve the log credits required to safeguard the microbial quality of the water supplied; however, only Giardia cysts were detected in 10-liter raw water samples despite routine microbial parameter monitoring showing disturbing contamination levels.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Log removal; Protozoa; Risk assessment; Water Safety Plan; Water treatment
Subjects: R Medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine
Depositing User: Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim
Date Deposited: 30 May 2019 03:35
Last Modified: 30 May 2019 03:35
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/21415

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