Existing Methods of Waterborne Pathogen Detection - Waterborne Pathogens: Detection Methods and Applications - page 38

CHAPTER THREE
Existing Methods of Waterborne
Pathogen Detection
Helen Bridle 1 , Kimberly Gilbride 2 , James Green 3
1 Heriot-Watt University, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering,
Riccarton, Edinburgh, Scotland
2 Ryerson University, Department of Chemistry and Biology, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3 Scottish Water, Juniper House, Heriot Watt Research Park, Edinburgh, Scotland
Chapter 2 gave an overview of the different microbial pathogens,
implicated in waterborne outbreaks of diseases, with specific emphasis
given to those where drinking water is an important mode of transmis-
sion. This chapter considers the guidelines and regulations in order to
reduce, or prevent, adverse health effects associated with unsafe drinking
water.
Safe drinking water is considered to be that which poses no signifi-
cant risk to health over a lifetime of consumption, taking into account
the increased sensitivity that some elements of the population (e.g. infants
and young children, the elderly, or the debilitated) may display. There is no
single universally applicable approach to managing delivery of safe drinking
water. 1
This chapter focuses specifically on the role of monitoring in the deliv-
ery of safe drinking water and gives an overview of the existing methods of
detection, which are routinely adopted.
3.1. WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION GUIDELINES
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published Guidelines for
Drinking Water Quality, previously the International Standards for Drinking
Water, since 1958. There have been several editions and various addendums
over time, reflecting developments in understanding.
The more recent Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality (with the 4th
edition published in 2011) do not set international standards, recognizing
“the advantage of risk-benefit approach in the establishment of national
standards and regulations”. 1 The guidelines are intended to support the
development and implementation of risk management strategies at local,