Assessment of drinking water quality and user perceptions between filling stations and water fountains on a college campus: a mixed methods approach

A woman gives a presentation on water filling stations

By Dr. Courtney Crist, graduated from Water IGEP on May 2016

Presented by Dr. Susan Duncan, Professor of Department of Food Science and Technology and co-director of Water IGEP, presented at 11th IWA Symposium on Tastes, Odours & Algal Toxins in Water in Sydney Australia on February 2017

Installation and use of water filling stations for reusable bottles on college campuses is increasing. Filling station conditions and reusable water bottle use may impact public health and safety due to increased water access and a risk of cross-contamination. The purpose of this study was to enumerate microbial populations on public sources and assess influence of water delivery infrastructure on consumer acceptability. Five focus groups investigated participant experiences with water fountains, filling stations, and tap water (total n=23 participants). Eight categories emerged regarding participant opinions and water source usage. Buildings (n=4), with nearproximity water fountain and filling stations, were sampled three times over three months. Spouts and the drain surface (10cm2 ) were swabbed on the water fountain and filling station. Water samples were collected at each location for chemical (pH, chlorine, and metals) and microbial (APC and E.coli/coliforms) evaluation. T-tests were used to determine statistical differences between the fountains and filling stations (α=0.05). Filling stations had higher APC (10.4×103 CFU/cm2 ) than fountains (8.8 CFU/cm2 ) (p<0.05) in the drain surface (10cm2 ) but not on the spouts. Water chemistry and water microbial levels (<1 CFU/ml) were not different (p>0.05). Coliforms were present at three of four filling station drain surface sites while not found at fountain sites. Qualitative data contradicts quantitative results, as participants disliked using water fountains due to unsanitary perceptions and felt filling stations were cleaner as well as more user-friendly. The poor sanitation of public filling stations may provide crosscontamination opportunities at impacting public health and safety.