Water Vending Machines Research Articles

Microbial contamination analysis of drinking water from bulk dispensers and fast-food restaurants in the Eastern Coachella Valley, California

Abstract Safe drinking water is a fundamental requirement for human life. The deterioration of water quality primarily involves microbiological hazards, since most evident water-related health problems are the result of microbial contamination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial contamination of drinking water from three sources: water vending machines (WVMs), soda fountains (SFs), and tap water (TW) in the Eastern Coachella Valley (ECV) using physico-chemical parameters, conventional cultivable methods, including IDEXX technology and molecular methods. A total of 72 samples were analyzed and results indicated heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs) bacteria in 20% of samples from WVMs, 25% of samples from SFs, 33.3% of TW samples, and 76% of swab samples. Results also demonstrated 20% of WVM, 88% of swab samples, 41% of SF, and 50% of TW samples had total coliforms. Our qPCR indicated the presence of genetic materials of all six selected microorganisms (Salmonella spp, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis) used as indicators of pathogenic microorganisms in water from WVMs, SFs, and TW, and were represented at different concentrations and predominance.

Microbiological Quality and Sanitation of Food Stalls and Drinking Water Vending Machines

Consumption of food from food stalls and water from vending machines has recently increased in Sakon Nakon Province, Thailand. This study investigated the microbial quality of food stalls and the sanitation of drinking water distributed through water vending machines. Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio cholerae were detected using polymerase chain reaction. In total, 33 food samples were collected from food stalls and 63 drinking water samples were collected from water vending machines. The results identified E. coli in 6.06% of the food and 11.11% of the drinking water samples. Salmonella spp., S. aureus, and V. cholerae were not detected in any of the food or drinking water samples. Food sanitation assessment indicated 21 (63.64%) of the food stalls did not meet the standards for drinking water as it was not stored in clean and closed containers equipped with a tap or nozzle. Regarding the sanitation of the water vending machines, the businesses failed to inspect the physical, chemical and biological aspects of water quality and never used a simple bacterial test kit to check water quality. It is concluded that the relevant government officials should educate the vender on food safety and hygiene as well as enforcing regular monitoring of the quality of food stall and drinking water vending machines.

A Case on the Project Failure of Water Vending Machines of Indian Railways : Financial Concerns and Beyond

A Case on the Project Failure of Water Vending Machines of Indian Railways : Financial Concerns and Beyond

PLC Based Prepaid Purified Water Drinking Station

PLC based prepaid purified drinking water station was designed and developed to address the safe distribution of purified drinking water at a reasonable cost to the end users and helped reduce the increasing number of solid wastes brought by used plastic bottles. The design of the machine was in accordance with the standard specifications of a water dispenser. The machine was fabricated using high grade stainless steel and food grade PVC water pipes. The evaluation of the machine underwent several trials to meet the desired volume of water. Dispensing of 250ml purified water will be attained by inserting the validated peso coin to the coin acceptor. The preset time for every transaction is four seconds.Overall dimensions of the machine are 60x52x16 inches equipped with 4 mini water pumps, a controller and four gooseneck faucets. The performance of the machine satisfies the perception of the evaluators. The design was based on the standards of a water vending machine and the desired volume of water to be dispensed was met.

How ‘smart’ are we with smart technology: comparison of water ATMs in Nairobi and Delhi

Abstract New forms of decentralized water infrastructure with digital projects driven by private investment are being introduced in low-income urban neighborhoods in the global south with the aim of increasing the coverage of affordable and safe water. These ‘smart’ water-vending machines are gaining popularity to meet water demand in growing cities as they are low-cost, transparent, revenue generating and replicable. However, field evidence from Nairobi and Delhi shows that similar technologies implemented to solve similar problems in different geographical and social settings can have completely different outcomes. Smart technologies can offer better outcomes when the implementing agencies and policy makers make smart choices about implementation, setting aside utopian hype.

Potential of Water Vending Machine to Remove Trihalomethanes and Heavy Metals During High and Low Water Seasons in Petropavlovsk

Potential of Water Vending Machine to Remove Trihalomethanes and Heavy Metals During High and Low Water Seasons in Petropavlovsk

Microbial contamination of drinking water from vending machines of Eastern Coachella Valley

Abstract Drinking water quality from sources other than tap water is increasingly becoming a source of concern in many communities. Communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley (ECV), Riverside County, California, USA have raised concerns regarding bulk drinking water from water vending machines (WVMs) found in public vendors. To address concerns, we conducted microbiological contamination assessments of drinking water from WVMs in the ECV using heterotrophic plate counts (HPC), the presence of total coliforms using IDEXX technology, and real-time PCR (qPCR). We also measured temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, and free chlorine concentration. Twenty-five WVMs were sampled by using positively charged NanoCeram® filters in the field. Results indicated 32% of WVMs had total coliforms, and 21% had HPC above Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements. Through qPCR, we found 81% of WVMs had Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter jejuni, 76% had Enterococcus faecalis, and 90% had Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results indicated most WVM samples we collected contained genetic material of pathogenic microorganisms and therefore, did not meet EPA drinking water standards. There is an urgency to enforce WVM maintenance through drain flushing, spigot cleaning, rust removal, filter replacement, and limits to physico-chemical parameters.

Coliform contamination on faucet surface of water vending machines in Klang Valley

In Malaysia, water vending machine serves as an alternative to drinking water supply. However, the quality ofdrinking water obtained from water vending machines may vary due to microorganism contamination which caused byinadequate hygienic practices and routine maintenance of the machines. In this study, 100 water vending machines wererandomly selected from 10 districts of Klang Valley. Sterile cotton swabs were used to collect swab samples from all selectedsubjects, with swab samples collected on the outer surface of water faucets. Samples were sent to laboratory for cultureanalyses using Nutrient agars (Oxoid) and HiCromeTM Coliform agars (HiMedia Laboratories). The results showed that noneof the water vending machine was contaminated by faecal coliform, however, with close to 80% of the subjects were foundcontaminated by total coliform (eg. Klebsiella, Enterobacter or Citrobacter species). Although the presence of total coliformmay not be deleterious to the health of end users, our findings highlights the need for authorities and water vending serviceproviders to set an effective sanitation procedure in maintaining the hygienic level of water vending machines.

Microbiological analysis of drinking water from water vending machines

Commercial water vending machines are gaining popularity nowadays among the general public, probably due to the ease of obtaining clean drinking water. However, improper maintenance of the machines can lead to bacterial contamination. Hence, this study aimed to investigate and determine the microbiological characteristics of drinking water from Water Vending Machines (WVM) by isolating and characterizing culturable bacteria in the water and nozzle swab samples. The samples were obtained from WVM at eight different locations around Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Several unique bacterial isolates were found, from both Gram-positive and Gram-negative groups. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and 16S rRNA sequence analysis suggested that these isolates are from Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Stenotrophomonas genera. In situ water quality tests which include pH, conductivity, and total dissolved solids were also conducted. Two samples from the inlet source have pH and conductivity values slightly above the reference values stipulated in drinking water regulations. The findings presented here suggest the importance of regular service maintenance of the WVM to ensure that the water samples meet the standard stipulated by the authority.

Preparation and characterization of chlorhexidine modified zinc-kaolinite and its antibacterial activity against bacteria isolated from water vending machine

Access to the portable drinking water is of paramount importance and remains major challenge globally. Water vending machine (WVM) could supplies drinking water to the community but the bacterial growth in WVM is of great health risk requires urgent attention. Chlorhexidine zinc-modified kaolinite (C-Zn-Kao-t1) was prepared, characterized and studied to inhibit the growth of isolated bacteria from WVM. The material was prepared by attaching chlorhexidine (0.5 mmol/L) on Zn-loaded kaolinite in which the loading capacity of Zn on the kaolinite (Kao-t1) satisfied 50% of cation exchange capacity of the kaolinite. The materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and dispersion behaviour analysis. The C-Zn-Kao-t1 did not cause any structural changes on the original structure and morphology of the kaolinite. The antibacterial activity of the materials was studied using disc diffusion technique (DDT) and minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) against bacteria isolated from WVM which are Stenetrophomonas maltophilia and Bacillus cereus as well Escherichia coli ATCC 11229 as a comparison. Based on these antibacterial assays, C-Zn-Kao-t1 sample has the highest DDT and the lowest MIC values against all bacteria (accept the MIC value for E. coli) showing its excellent antibacterial activity against bacteria isolated from WVM. Further test on cytotoxicity towards human fibroblast cells in vitro showed that 0.5 mg of the C-Zn-Kao-t1 is cytocompatible towards HSF 1184 cells. This concludes that chlorhexidine modified zinc-kaolinite are not cytotoxic and can be embedded safely in WVM in preventing bacteria contamination.

A Case Study: Water Quality Content between Water Supply and Water Vending Machine at Parit Raja, Johor

Water quality study was conducted on water vendor machines with different types of systems that are available around Parit Raja, Batu Pahat such as reverse osmosis systems, systems nanotechnology nano-silver system and water supply pipes. The aim of this study is to distinguish the water quality from the vending machine that follow the standard quality whether authorized or not. Standard water quality parameters such pH, iron concentration experiments, experimental manganese, aluminum and experimental testing ammoniacal nitrogen were computed as comparison. Nanotechnology system water produces better quality when comparing to the pipe water as its pH value shows 6.62. From the experiments the concentration of iron, manganese, aluminium and ammoniacal nitrogen shows 0.08-, 0.07-, 0.05-, and 0.01 mg/L respectively which all the values are in compliance with the National Drinking Water Quality Standards (NDWQS). As for water from reverse osmosis system and pipe water supply both its pH is 6.2 and 6.4 correspondingly which both are not concurrence with National Drinking Water Quality Standards. However, iron content for water from reverse osmosis (0.30 mg/L) is higher than water supply pipe (0.12 mg/L) and both are in the standard range. Iron content of the water supply pipe which is not allowed by 0.14 mg/L. Compared with water from a reverse osmosis system in which the iron content is at a maximum of 0.10mg / L. The parameters of aluminium and ammoniacal nitrogen, the two systems are at acceptable levels. For water from nano-silver system, all parameters are in compliance with the National Drinking Water Quality Standards.

WATER VENDING MACHINE WITH MEASUREMENT OF WATER

WATER VENDING MACHINE WITH MEASUREMENT OF WATER

DRINKING WATER QUALITY FROM WATER VENDING MACHINES IN SELECTED PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES

Drinking water from Water Vending Machines (WVM) may pose health risks to consumers especially to students who are primary end-users in the public school setting. A one-shot survey of WVM water samples from 8 public schools in Cebu City Philippines was analyzed for microbial test and 3 schools were further investigated for physicochemical analysis. Results revealed that 8 water samples registered a total coliform count of 2.6 CFU/mL while specific E.coli testing posted (<1.1 to 2.6 CFU/mL). These data are higher than the national standard for permissible value for clean water (<1.1/100 ml) and international standard of 0.00 CFU/100 ml except in 2 schools that fall within the normal level (<1.1 CFU/mL). The water samples passed the physicochemical evaluation but failed in the microbiological test due to the presence of high levels of E.coli. Hence, water dispensed from the WVM is not safe for students’ consumption. Schools and other institutions that utilized WVM must require private companies as well as the management of the institutions to routinely check, clean, and maintain the machine to avoid accumulation of coliforms and E.coli contamination. © 2018 The Authors. Published by IEREK Press. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Peer-review under responsibility of ESSD's International Scientific Committee of Reviewers.

Drinking Water Quality from Water Vending Machines in Selected Public Schools in Cebu City, Philippines

Drinking water from Water Vending Machines (WVM) may pose health risks to consumers especially to students who are primary end-users in the public school setting. A one-shot survey of WVM water samples from 8 public schools in Cebu City Philippines was analyzed for microbial test and 3 schools were further investigated for physicochemical analysis. Results revealed that 8 water samples registered a total coliform count of 2.6 CFU/mL while specific E.coli testing posted (

Drinking Water Quality from Water Vending Machines in Selected Public Schools in Cebu City, Philippines

Drinking Water Quality from Water Vending Machines in Selected Public Schools in Cebu City, Philippines

Economic analysis of the energy consumption of a vending machine in a Mexican university building

Food, water, snack, and soda vending machines have recently become more abundant in non-residential buildings. This increase in the number of vending machines directly affects the electricity consumption of the building where they are installed. The number of vending machines is directly related to energy consumption and influences the total electrical bill of the entire building. We present a case study of a non-residential building that is designated as a university level educational facility. Within this analysis we realize a comparison between the three energy costs that are related to the three different tariff types in Mexico. We conduct an analysis of the behavior of the electrical load that the vending machine represents, which is focused on reviewing two objectives: the hours of operation according to the electrical tariff that is applied and the incidence of loads in relation to energy consumption (kWh) and electrical potential (kW) in the electrical network of the building. The results shown in this article are a great help when making decisions such as the number of vending machines to install according to the economic aspect and the electricity tariff contracted.

Drinking Water Quality of Water Vending Machines in Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor

An increased in demand from the consumer due to their perceptions on tap water quality is identified as one of the major factor on why they are mentally prepared to pay for the price of the better quality drinking water. The thought that filtered water quality including that are commercially available in the market such as mineral and bottled drinking water and from the drinking water vending machine makes they highly confident on the level of hygiene, safety and the mineral content of this type of drinking water. This study was investigated the vended water quality from the drinking water vending machine in eight locations in Parit Raja are in terms of pH, total dissolve solids (TDS), turbidity, mineral content (chromium, arsenic, cadmium, lead and nickel), total organic carbon (TOC), pH, total colony-forming units (CFU) and total coliform. All experiments were conducted in one month duration in triplicate samples for each sampling event. The results indicated the TDS and all heavy metals in eight vended water machines in Parit Raja area were found to be below the Food Act 1983, Regulation 360C (Standard for Packaged Drinking Water and Vended water, 2012) and Malaysian Drinking Water Quality, Ministry of Health 1983. No coliform was presence in any of the vended water samples. pH was found to be slightly excess the limit provided while turbidity was found to be 45 to 95 times more higher than 0.1 NTU as required by the Malaysian Food Act Regulation. The data obtained in this study would suggest the important of routine maintenance and inspection of vended water provider in order to maintain a good quality, hygienic and safety level of vended water.

Identification of Escherichia coli Strains from Water Vending Machines of Kelantan, Malaysia Using 16S rRNA Gene Sequence Analysis

Water vending machines provide an alternative source of clean and safe drinking water to the consumers. However, the quality of drinking water may alter due to contamination from lack of hygienic practices and maintenance of the machines. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the microbiological quality of water from vending machines and associated contact surfaces. Seventeen water samples and 85 swab samples (nozzles, drip trays, coin slots, buttons and doors) from 3 locations in Kelantan were collected. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) sequencing were carried out and sequences obtained were compared against the sequences available in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information database using the basic local alignment search tool programme. Coliform counts were observed in 94.12 % of water samples, 76.47 % of nozzles and 82.35 % of drip tray swabs. Furthermore, results of 16S rRNA sequence analysis indicated that two gram-negative isolates were identified as Escherichia coli U 5/41 (Accession no. NR_024570.1) and E. coli O157:H7 EDL933 (Accession no. CP008957.1) with similarity value of 100 %, respectively. The results from this study further improve our understanding of the potential microorganisms in drinking water. Regular maintenance and cleaning of water vending machines are important to reduce bacterial growth and the presence of waterborne pathogens.

‘If No Gasoline, No Water’: Privatizing Drinking Water Quality in South Texas Colonias

Our study investigates why low-income Mexican-American residents living in rural and periurban subdivisions ( colonias) in South Texas, one of the poorest regions in the United States, are increasingly dependent upon water vending machines as the main source of drinking water despite continued water infrastructure development. We outline a relational framework that builds on current debates within nature–society scholarship to address this paradox. We demonstrate how institutional enclosure—the creation or repurposing of institutions that curtails public participation in water governance—paired with water quality discourses and daily practices, operate over time to enroll residents as neoliberal subjects. We focus our attention on the emergence of the ‘water consumer’, or the individual who purchases drinking water from the vending machine. This approach addresses the coproduction of political subjectivities in relation to institutional change and how subjectivity reconstitutes a new hydrosocial relationship mediated by the water vending machine. We argue for a relational approach that attends to the production of political subjectivities as central to, not as a result of, the neoliberalization of nature.

Purification and Quality of Drinking Water: Issues and Concerns

The Philippines is commiued to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goal Number 7 to halve by 2015 the proportion of population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and safe sanitation. This paper analyzes and discusses the puri lication processes and quality of drinking water and their regulation in the country; it further discusses issues and concerns and makes recommendations. The Local Water Utilities Administration (L WUA) have more than 6,280 water service providers (WSPs) which provide potable water to the country's 92 million population. The purification processes employed by the WSPs, such as Manila Water Inc. (large scale) and Laguna Water District (medium scale), rely mainly on conventional water purilication methods that include coagulation/flocculation. sedimentation, liltration and disinfection. The chemical disinfectant used is either chlorine (large scale) or chlorine dioxide (medium scale). Bottled water manufacturers use a combination of methods such as filtration, reverse osmosis, ozonation and others. The standards for drinking water quality are defined in the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water 2007 (DOH Administrative Order No. 2007-2012) and apply to "all waterworks officials, developers and operators of water supply systems both government and private entities, water refilling station operators, water vending machine operators, ice manufacturers, all establishments and institutions that supply or serve drinking water. drinking water laboratories, health and sanitation authorities, the general public and all others concerned". Bottled drinking water manufacturers must also comply with Good Manufacturing Practices based on DOH-BFAD Administrative Order No. 18-A series of 1993, since bottled water is considered a food product and is directly regulated by the DOH Food and Drug Administration. It is recommended that existing policies on the quality of drinking water and monitoring procedures be reviewed and harmonized for all WSPs including water districts, bottled drinking water manufacturers. refilling stations and small bottlers. DOH should be empowered in terms or budget, structure and equipment. to effectively monitor and enforce compliance with quality guidelines. including monitoring of refilling stations and all bottled water manufacturers. Policies for recognition (more accurate term than accreditation) of water testing laboratories by DOI I should be: updated and should include laboratory space requirement and qualifications of persons certifying reports of analyses and evaluating laboratories. In addition to providing sate drinking water to its increasing population, the Philippine government should strive to strengthen the regulation or water service providers to ensure that thc standards for good quality drinking water arc met and sustained.