Enumeration of Enterococci in Treated Water from Water Treatment Plants and Distribution System in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Enterococci are intestinal microflora of warm-blooded animals, including humans which can be potential fecal pollutants in streams and rivers. This can pose a risk to health due to source water contamination. In drinking water monitoring programs, enumeration of Enterococci provides additional insights on drinking water source quality, adequacy of water treatment process and microbial condition of distribution system. In Malaysia, treated water quality is monitored for Total Coliform and Escherichiacoli under the National Standard for Drinking Water Quality but not for other emerging pathogen like Enterococci. However, it is regulated by the 25th Schedule (Food Act 1983) for Drinking Water and Packed Drinking Water and must be absent in 100 mL. Hence, the goal of this work is to fulfil Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn. Bhd. (Air Selangor)’s long-term strategy of ‘Trust Our Tap 2028’ which ensures that water supply distributed to consumers is safe to be consumed directly from tap. The occurrences of Enterococci in treated water samples from 104 sampling points across Selangor and Kuala Lumpur from January to May 2022 were enumerated via membrane filtration method and verified using Gram stain. Overall results showed that all samples were absent for Enterococci per 100 mL. They also complied with regulatory standard of Malaysian Food Act 1983. Future workwhich includes a more holistic profiling of current and new emerging pathogens in the water network of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Malaysia can be proposed to fully comply with the 25th Schedule of Food Act 1983.