Volume 24, Issue 5 (7-2026)
TB 2026, 24(5): 60-71 |
Back to browse issues page
Research code: 17365
Ethics code: IR.SSU.SPH.REC.1403.023
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
payedar ardakani S, Teimouri F, Rezaei Abgholi S, zare khafri M, Narouei S, Shiranian M. Comparison of Microbial Quality Between Traditional Drinking Fountains and Drinking Fountains with Disposable Straw in Educational Facilities of Yazd University of Medical Sciences Campus. TB 2026; 24 (5) :60-71
URL: http://tbj.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-3808-en.html
URL: http://tbj.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-3808-en.html
Sara Payedar ardakani 
, Fahimeh Teimouri * , Somayeh Rezaei Abgholi , Maryam Zare khafri , Safia Narouei , Mahboobeh Shiranian
, Fahimeh Teimouri * , Somayeh Rezaei Abgholi , Maryam Zare khafri , Safia Narouei , Mahboobeh Shiranian
shahid sadoughi university of medical sciences , f.teimouri1401@gmail.com
Full-Text [PDF 534 kb]
(2 Downloads)
| Abstract (HTML) (5 Views)
Full-Text: (1 Views)
Comparison of Microbial Quality Between Traditional Drinking Fountains and Drinking Fountains with Disposable Straw in Educational Facilities of Yazd University of Medical Sciences Campus
Sara Payedar Ardakani (B.S.c)1, Somayeh Rezaeei Abgholi (B.S.c) 1, Fahimeh Teimouri (Ph.D)2, Maryam Zare Khofri (B.S.c) 1, Safiya Narouei (M.S.c)3, Mahboubeh Shiranian (M.S.c)4
1.Bachelor of Science, Student Research Committee, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
2.Corresponding Author: Associate Professor, Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. Email: f.teimouri1401@gmail.com Tel:03531492151
3.Master Science student of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Student Research Committee, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
4.Master Science in Environmental Health Engineering, Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: Regarding the importance of providing healthy drinking water, specially in public places, his study compared the microbial and physicochemical qualities of water from traditional drinking fountains and drinking fountains with disposable straw at educational facilities affiliated with Yazd University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: Conducted as a descriptive analysis over summer and winter, the research involved 12 drinking fountains, in educational centers affiliated with Yazd University of Medical Sciences. Measured parameters included total coliform, fecal coliform, fungi, heterotrophic plate count (HPC), as well as physicochemical parameters such as pH, turbidity, and residual free chlorine.
Results: Results showed that pH, total coliform, fecal coliform, and fungi were at zero levels across all samples. The mean turbidity in output water was 0/38 ± 0/645 NTU for traditional drinking fountains and 0/45 ± 0/68 NTU for drinking fountains with disposable straw, with significantly higher turbidity observed in winter compared to summer (p=0/007). The mean residual free chlorine was consistently low in both the drinking fountains (0/12 ± 0/035 mg/L and 0/12 ± 0/08 mg/L, respectively), falling below the national standard range of 0/2–0/8 mg/L in most cases. While HPC counts showed some increase, they remained within acceptable limits.
Conclusion: The study concluded that all microbial indicators and pH turbidity complied with national standards. However, the observed rise in HPC and reduction in residual chlorine were potentially attributed to water stagnation in water reservoirs and the campus's location at the endpoint of the water supply network. The findings underscore the necessity for daily and regular monitoring of drinking fountains to maintain quality, particularly during the winter season.
Keywords: Drinking Water, Sanitation, Microbiota, Chlorine, Reference Standards
Conflict of interest: The authors declared no conflict of interest.
References
1-World Health Organization. Guidelines for drinking-water quality. 4th ed. Geneva: WHO; 2022.
2-World Health Organization. Drinking-water fact sheet. Geneva: WHO; 2023. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water.
3-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drinking water contamination and health effects. Atlanta: CDC; 2023.
4-Kristanti RA, Hadibarata T, Syafrudin M & et al Microbiological contaminants in drinking water: current status and challenges. Water Air Soil Pollut. 2022;233:299.
5-Alizadeh I, Darijani T, Noori Goushki M & et al. Investigation of the chemical and microbial quality of water supplied by treatment stations in Kerman city, Iran. J Water Sanit Hyg Dev. 2024;14(10):963-70.
6-Boonhok R, Borisut S, Chuklin N & et al. Drinking water quality assessment from water dispensers in an educational institution. Water Supply. 2021;21(8):4457-64.
7-Marcus M. Drinking water quality and its impact on health and education. CEPR VoxEU; 2023. Available from: https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/drinking-water-quality-and-its-impact-health-and-education. Accessed December 19, 2025.
8-Rostegar A, et al. Hygienic evaluation of drinking water supply equipment in public places. Iranian Journal of Environmental Health. 2016;13(2):112-9.[Persian]
9-Hile TD, Leal R, Dunbar SG & et al. Microbiological quality of drinking water from water dispensers. AIMS Microbiology. 2025;11(4):891–914. doi:10.3934/microbiol.2025039 AIMS Press.
10-Girolamini L, Faccini M, Bua A & et al. Different trends in microbial contamination between two types of microfiltered water dispensers: from risk analysis to consumer health preservation. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(2):272.
11-Boonhok R, Borisut S, Chuklin N & et al. Drinking water quality assessment from water dispensers in an educational institution. Water Supply. 2021;21(8):4457-64.
12-Goudarzi B, et al. Microbial quality of drinking water dispensers in educational centers of Shahrekord. J Environ Health Sci Eng. 2021;8(3):245-54.[Persian]
13-Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. Method for measuring turbidity in drinking water. Standard No. 3542.[Persian]
14-Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. Method for measuring pH in drinking water. Standard No. 3752.[Persian]
15-Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. Method for measuring free residual chlorine in drinking water. Standard No. 4006. [Persian]
16-Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. Method for detection of total and fecal coliforms in drinking water. Standard No. 2911.[Persian]
17-Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. Method for heterotrophic plate count (HPC) in drinking water. Standard No. 9808.[Persian]
18-APHA, AWWA, WEF. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 23rd ed. Washington DC: APHA; 2017.
19-Chan S, Pullerits K, Keucken A& et al. Bacterial release from pipe biofilm in a full-scale drinking water distribution system. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2019;5(9):1-10.
20-Li P, Wu J. Drinking water quality and public health. Expo Health. 2019;11(1):73-9
21-Ahmed W, Hamilton K, Toze S & et al. Assessment of bacteriological quality of drinking water from different sources in a developing country. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(5):1458.
22-Phiri BJ, Chidamba L, Momba MNB & et al. Microbial contamination in drinking water at public outdoor recreation facilities in New Zealand. J Appl Microbiol. 2021;130(1):302-12..
23-Carabin A, Cassivi A, Dorea C & et al. Heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) in drinking water distribution systems: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis. Water Quality Research Journal. 2024;59(3):126–58. doi:10.2166/wqrj.2024.027
Sara Payedar Ardakani (B.S.c)1, Somayeh Rezaeei Abgholi (B.S.c) 1, Fahimeh Teimouri (Ph.D)2, Maryam Zare Khofri (B.S.c) 1, Safiya Narouei (M.S.c)3, Mahboubeh Shiranian (M.S.c)4
1.Bachelor of Science, Student Research Committee, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
2.Corresponding Author: Associate Professor, Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. Email: f.teimouri1401@gmail.com Tel:03531492151
3.Master Science student of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Student Research Committee, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
4.Master Science in Environmental Health Engineering, Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: Regarding the importance of providing healthy drinking water, specially in public places, his study compared the microbial and physicochemical qualities of water from traditional drinking fountains and drinking fountains with disposable straw at educational facilities affiliated with Yazd University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: Conducted as a descriptive analysis over summer and winter, the research involved 12 drinking fountains, in educational centers affiliated with Yazd University of Medical Sciences. Measured parameters included total coliform, fecal coliform, fungi, heterotrophic plate count (HPC), as well as physicochemical parameters such as pH, turbidity, and residual free chlorine.
Results: Results showed that pH, total coliform, fecal coliform, and fungi were at zero levels across all samples. The mean turbidity in output water was 0/38 ± 0/645 NTU for traditional drinking fountains and 0/45 ± 0/68 NTU for drinking fountains with disposable straw, with significantly higher turbidity observed in winter compared to summer (p=0/007). The mean residual free chlorine was consistently low in both the drinking fountains (0/12 ± 0/035 mg/L and 0/12 ± 0/08 mg/L, respectively), falling below the national standard range of 0/2–0/8 mg/L in most cases. While HPC counts showed some increase, they remained within acceptable limits.
Conclusion: The study concluded that all microbial indicators and pH turbidity complied with national standards. However, the observed rise in HPC and reduction in residual chlorine were potentially attributed to water stagnation in water reservoirs and the campus's location at the endpoint of the water supply network. The findings underscore the necessity for daily and regular monitoring of drinking fountains to maintain quality, particularly during the winter season.
Keywords: Drinking Water, Sanitation, Microbiota, Chlorine, Reference Standards
Conflict of interest: The authors declared no conflict of interest.
References
1-World Health Organization. Guidelines for drinking-water quality. 4th ed. Geneva: WHO; 2022.
2-World Health Organization. Drinking-water fact sheet. Geneva: WHO; 2023. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water.
3-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drinking water contamination and health effects. Atlanta: CDC; 2023.
4-Kristanti RA, Hadibarata T, Syafrudin M & et al Microbiological contaminants in drinking water: current status and challenges. Water Air Soil Pollut. 2022;233:299.
5-Alizadeh I, Darijani T, Noori Goushki M & et al. Investigation of the chemical and microbial quality of water supplied by treatment stations in Kerman city, Iran. J Water Sanit Hyg Dev. 2024;14(10):963-70.
6-Boonhok R, Borisut S, Chuklin N & et al. Drinking water quality assessment from water dispensers in an educational institution. Water Supply. 2021;21(8):4457-64.
7-Marcus M. Drinking water quality and its impact on health and education. CEPR VoxEU; 2023. Available from: https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/drinking-water-quality-and-its-impact-health-and-education. Accessed December 19, 2025.
8-Rostegar A, et al. Hygienic evaluation of drinking water supply equipment in public places. Iranian Journal of Environmental Health. 2016;13(2):112-9.[Persian]
9-Hile TD, Leal R, Dunbar SG & et al. Microbiological quality of drinking water from water dispensers. AIMS Microbiology. 2025;11(4):891–914. doi:10.3934/microbiol.2025039 AIMS Press.
10-Girolamini L, Faccini M, Bua A & et al. Different trends in microbial contamination between two types of microfiltered water dispensers: from risk analysis to consumer health preservation. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(2):272.
11-Boonhok R, Borisut S, Chuklin N & et al. Drinking water quality assessment from water dispensers in an educational institution. Water Supply. 2021;21(8):4457-64.
12-Goudarzi B, et al. Microbial quality of drinking water dispensers in educational centers of Shahrekord. J Environ Health Sci Eng. 2021;8(3):245-54.[Persian]
13-Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. Method for measuring turbidity in drinking water. Standard No. 3542.[Persian]
14-Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. Method for measuring pH in drinking water. Standard No. 3752.[Persian]
15-Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. Method for measuring free residual chlorine in drinking water. Standard No. 4006. [Persian]
16-Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. Method for detection of total and fecal coliforms in drinking water. Standard No. 2911.[Persian]
17-Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. Method for heterotrophic plate count (HPC) in drinking water. Standard No. 9808.[Persian]
18-APHA, AWWA, WEF. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 23rd ed. Washington DC: APHA; 2017.
19-Chan S, Pullerits K, Keucken A& et al. Bacterial release from pipe biofilm in a full-scale drinking water distribution system. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2019;5(9):1-10.
20-Li P, Wu J. Drinking water quality and public health. Expo Health. 2019;11(1):73-9
21-Ahmed W, Hamilton K, Toze S & et al. Assessment of bacteriological quality of drinking water from different sources in a developing country. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(5):1458.
22-Phiri BJ, Chidamba L, Momba MNB & et al. Microbial contamination in drinking water at public outdoor recreation facilities in New Zealand. J Appl Microbiol. 2021;130(1):302-12..
23-Carabin A, Cassivi A, Dorea C & et al. Heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) in drinking water distribution systems: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis. Water Quality Research Journal. 2024;59(3):126–58. doi:10.2166/wqrj.2024.027
Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
other
Received: 2025/08/10 | Accepted: 2025/10/17 | Published: 2025/11/19
Received: 2025/08/10 | Accepted: 2025/10/17 | Published: 2025/11/19
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
