A bacterial examination of water supplies in the South East region with particular reference to Clostridia perfigens as an indicator organism for Cryptosporidium

Abstract

Traditionally the indicator pathogens used to determine drinking water suitability were Total coliforms and E. coli. More recent legislation has introduced Clostridia perfringens as an indicator organism for Cryptosporidium parvum. The study investigated the incidence of C. perfringens in the South East region in drinking waters, ground waters and surface waters for abstraction. It was found that a number of drinking waters and a large number of ground waters were contaminated with C. perfringens and/or coliforms. Selected locations were analysed for Cryptosporidium spp. but none were detected.