BACKGROUND:
Samples of drinking water were collected directly from the personal water bottles of students at an elementary school in Calgary, Alberta.
METHODS:
Total and fecal coliforms and heterotrophic bacteria were enumerated using membrane filtration and agar plate count methods respectively.
RESULTS:
The Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines (CWQG) criterion was exceeded for total coliform in 13.3% of 75 samples. Fecal coliform and total heterotrophic criteria were exceeded in 8.9% (of 68 samples) and 64.4% (of 76 samples) respectively.
FINDINGS:
The use of personal water bottles for students in elementary classrooms is not recommended.