The effect of active charcoal filter on viability of bacteria isolated from the tap water in Sarajevo

Abstract

Clean water is essential to our existence and problems might arise when it becomes contaminated with different pathogens, which might pose a threat to human health. Tap water is generally considered drinkable since it passes different forms of disinfection during processing. Some households have additional disinfection procedures, the most common one being the usage of charcoal filters, in order to further clean the tap water from both undesirable solvents and microorganisms. In the first independent study of this kind, we have tested tap water for bacteria from five different locations in Sarajevo, and we have tested the efficiency of charcoal filter in trapping of bacteria. According to regulations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there should be 1 colony forming unit (CFU) per 50ul of water sample, which was satisfied in only one location from Sarajevo, while one had significantly higher levels (6.7, p val. 0.0148). Overall, the charcoal filter has decreased the number of bacteria in the water, with the exception of one sample.