Bacteriological water analyses
Bacteriological analyses of TC, FC, and FE were carried out
according to the membrane filtration method using selective
media and following standard procedures [26]. The
bacteriological culture media used were m-Endo (BBL),
m-FC (BBL) and KF-Streptococcus Agar (BBL) according
to manufacturer's instructions for TC, FC and FE respectively.
Briefly, 1 L water samples were taken in sterilized
polypropylene bottles. The samples were transported to
the laboratory under cold conditions (4°C) and processed
in the within 6 hours of sampling at the most. When necessary
samples were diluted, mainly for irrigation water,
while 100 mL of drinking water samples were directly filtered.
After filtration through a 0.45 μm nitrocellulose
membrane (Millipore), the media plates were incubated
at 36° for 24 h for TC, at 44.5°C for 24 h for FC and at
36°C for 48 h for FE.