• 상하수도학회지
• /
• 제33권5호
• /
• pp.395-404
• /
• 2019

The point-of-use water dispenser systems are widely used because of convenience in handling and demand for high-quality drinking water. The application has been increased recently in the public places such as department stores, universities and the rest areas in express ways. Improvement of water qualities by the dispenser systems was compared with tap water in this study. The tap water is supplied to the dispenser as the influent of the dispenser system. The twelve dispensers in the public places were used. The five dispensers used reverse osmosis as the main filter and other dispensers used various filters such as ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and alumina filter. The water quality indicators for sanitation safety, i.e., turbidity and total coliforms, were evaluated. Other water qualities such as pH, residual chlorine, heterotrophic plate count (HPC), and total cell counts were also analyzed. By the point-of-use water dispenser, the turbidity, residual chlorine and pH were decreased and the HPC and total cell counts were increased. The t-test results revealed that the HPC of the tap waters were not significantly different from the treated waters but the total cell counts of the two groups were significantly different. The low pH of the RO filter treatment was also significantly different from the tap waters. This study will contribute to understand the role of the point-of-use water dispenser in improving water quality and to identify key water quality for the proper maintenance of the dispenser systems.

• 미생물학회지
• /
• 제44권3호
• /
• pp.244-250
• /
• 2008

울산 소재 S회사(S-C)와 U고등학교(U-H)에 설치된 냉온수기를 대상으로 S-C에서 냉수 74개, U-H에서 냉수와 온수 각 36개의 시료를 채수하여 미생물 분포를 조사하였다. 일반세균 농도의 중간값은, S-C 시료에서 53 CFU/ml ($0\sim4,135$ CFU/ml)이었으며, U-H의 경우 냉수에서 80 CFU/ml ($0\sim1,480$ CFU/ml), 온수에서 0 CFU/ml ($0\sim240$ CFU/ml)이었다. S-C 시료의 38%, U-H 냉수 시료의 42%에서 일반세균에 대한 먹는 물 수질기준인 100 CFU/ml을 초과하였으며, 대장균군은S-C의 1개 시료에서 검출되었다. 냉온수기에서 검출되는 미생물의 주요오염 경로를 확인하고자, 2회에 걸쳐 먹는 샘물 용기로부터 각각 6일과 8일 동안 매일 시료를 채수하였으며, 2회 채수는 냉온수기의 꼭지에서도 행하였다. 일반세균 농도의 평균값은, 먹는 샘물 용기에서 1회 33 CFU/ml, 2회 132 CFU/ml이었으며, 냉수 꼭지 시료에서 1,022 CFU/ml로, 냉온수기 꼭지에서 검출되는 대부분의 세균은 먹는 샘물이 수조통과 통로관을 거치면서 오염된 것으로 판단된다. 먹는 샘물 용기를 냉온수기에 연결한 후 시간의 경과에 따른 용기 내 일반세균수의 유의성 있는 증가는 없었다. 임의의 100개 일반세균 집 락을 대상으로 순수배양 후표현형에 따른 동정 시험을 하였으며, 그람양성 3속6종,그람음성 7속7종 등, 모두 10속13종의 세균을 잠정적으로 확인하였다. U-H의 4대 냉온수기 꼭지에서, 그람양성은 전체의 72%이었고, 그람양성의 Micrococcus spp.가 전체의 54%를 차지하여 가장 많았다. Micrococus spp.와 그람음성의 Sphingomonas paucimobilis는4대의 냉온수기 모두에서 분리되었다. 냉온수기의 일반세균은 주로 실내 공기중 미생물로부터 유래하며, 이들 미생물이 냉온수기의 수조통 흑은 통로관에서 생물막 형성에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 생각된다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제45권5호
• /
• pp.434-442
• /
• 2019

Objectives: This study was performed in order to report the epidemiological features of a food poisoning outbreak caused by multiple pathogens in a high school in Chungcheongnam-do Province, Korea in April 2019 and to suggest measures to prevent a similar incidence. Methods: A total of 39 patients with diarrhea were examined. Environmental samples were obtained from 6 food handlers, 4 food utensils, 72 preserved foods served during the food poisoning outbreak, 9 door handles, 10 drinking water samples from water dispensers, and 6 ground water samples from water taps. These analyzed to detect viruses and bacteria. Results: Among the 39 patients, 21 cases (53.8%) of enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), 7 cases of Staphylococcus aureus (17.9%), and 17 cases of norovirus (43.6%) were positive, and in 16 of the cases a co-infection with at least one other pathogen were observed. EAEC was assumed to be transmitted from contaminated drinking water because it was also detected in the water sample from a water dispenser in the dormitory. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated only in the fecal samples of patients, meaning it was not possible to trace its origin. The genotype of norovirus detected in the drinking water and ground water was consistent with that isolated from patients, and it was determined that the norovirus infection originated from the school's water environment. Conclusions: These findings indicate that a lack of environmental hygiene management related to school meals caused the food poisoning incident. In particular, a lack of management of drinking water, water supply, and personal hygiene should be pointed out. This should be urgently addressed and continuous monitoring should be carried out in the future. In addition, students and staff should be educated and trained to improve their personal hygiene.