Quality of Drinking Water in Sealed Containers in Saraburi Province and Recommendations for Improvement

Abstract

Objectives: To assess quality of drinking water in sealed containers (drinking water) in Saraburi province area, to analyze causes of the quality of drinking water, and to determine a recommendation for quality improvement from relevant parties. Methods: The researchers analyzed the effort of the Saraburi Provincial Public Health Office in the fiscal year 2015 on the issue including results from the inspection of manufacturers according to the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for drinking water, and the analysis of quality of drinking water collected from the manufacturing sites by the regulators. Legal authorities in the 4^th Health Region and food specialists from the Food and Drug Administration were interviewed on the quality of drinking water and their recommendations on curbing the problem of quality of drinking water.  Results: Thirty-two percent (16 out of 50 samples) of drinking water failed the standard. Eleven (22%) failed the standard for MPN Coliform, while 6 (12%) failed standard on pH by having pH<6.5. E. coli contamination was found in one sample (2%). No contamination of Salmonella spp., and V.paraheamolyticus were identified. Inspection according to the GMP revealed that overall scores were at a good level (70-79 from 100 points). The domain with the lowest average score was the 3^rd domain on water sources and water quality improvement (70.07±14.12), followed by the ninth domain on documentation and report (70.74±16.28). The manufacturers passing the 3^rd domain on water sources and the improvement of water quality, the 4^th domain on containers, the 5^th domain on cleansing agents and disinfectants, the 6^th domain on water filling, the 7^th domain on hygiene, the 8^th domain on personnel and their operation and the 9^th domain on documentation and reports were significantly more likely to pass microbiological test than those failing these domains.  However, no associations were found between the GMP scores and passing of criteria on pH and chemical tests. Analysis of effort of the regulators and interview of relevant parties led to the following recommendations. Saraburi Public Health Office should require the manufacturers to improve production according to findings from GMP inspection such as control of production by pH examination with test kit and recording of esults. Furthermore, the establishment of measures for urgencies is recommended such as when the contamination of pathogenic microorganism was found. In such cases officers should promptly investigate the causes and give advices to manufactures. Moreover, regulators should increase the frequency of inspection and report to the Provincial Health Office, develop a database for risky production sites, and prioritize them with differential intensity of surveillance. In addition, the improvement of skills in surveillance of problems among regulators and manufacturers was needed. Conclusion: Information from the study could be used as an input for setting the procedures to improve the quality of drinking water in provinces.