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| H2S water testing kit
| a simple easy to use water testing kit developed for aboriginal communities

Safe drinking water is one of the primary requirements for healthy life. Epidemics arising from waterborne diseases are a global health problem. About eighty percent of all infectious diseases throughout the world are water related. Microbial pollution of drinking water is due to the presence of faecal matter in the water supply. It is impossible to test water for each and every microorganism of faecal origin. Water is therefore tested for suitable microbial indicators such as colifom bacteria which is present in the faecal matter of warm blooded animals including humans. Coliform bacteria have been generally accepted as the indicators of faecal pollution. Another organism present in faecal matter is sulphate reducing bacteria that have been found to occur in high numbers of up to a thousand million organisms per mg of human faeces, which is almost the same as coliform bacteria and hence shall be considered as an indicator.

A method to test this was refined and modified by Dr Jaya Nair based on the detection of H2S reducing bacteria originally developed by Manja et al (1982). A test kit to test the bacteriological quality of water had been developed to conduct the test on-site. This is very suitable for the remote communities. The kit is the result of five year research project by Dr Jaya Nair (pictured left). The test kit is now being introduced to Aboriginal Communities. The test is very simple and does not require technically trained personnel to conduct the test. As part of the kit, RADG has produced a video and training book, which are self-explanatory. It is economical compared to all other tests in terms of cost of chemicals, transportation, and storage. As there is no need for incubation at a constant temperature, the kit uses a cheap yoghurt maker as the incubator to heat up to 35 degrees Celcius. The method works best at 35 degrees even though it will work between 18 and 40 degrees Celcius. The medium has indefinite shelf life and does not need to be stored in a refrigerator, unlike other chemicals. The kit will have great application in developing countries and has the potential to be an internationally appropriate technology.

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