Prevalence of Escherichia coli and Coliform Contamination in Unbranded Refillable Drinking Water Depots in Rural South Lampung, Indonesia: A Case Study around ITERA

Ade Alifa Mutiara Marchy (Food Technology Study Program, Department of Production and Industrial Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Jl. Terusan Ryacudu Way Huwi Jati Agung, Lampung 35365)
Syahrizal Nasution (Food Technology Study Program, Department of Production and Industrial Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Jl. Terusan Ryacudu Way Huwi Jati Agung, Lampung 35365)
Yosi Syafitri (Food Technology Study Program, Department of Production and Industrial Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Jl. Terusan Ryacudu Way Huwi Jati Agung, Lampung 35365)

Journal of Applied Food Technology
Vol 13, No 1 (2026)

Drinking water is an important aspect for the body in sustaining life. In Indonesia, the refillable drinking water depot business is now growing rapidly and has an important meaning in providing drinking water that is easily accessible to the community. However, drinking water is a product that is susceptible to contamination, so public ignorance of the quality of refillable drinking water needs to be analyzed to avoid the risk of diseases that may be caused by refillable drinking water from depots such as diarrhea. The purpose of this study was to test the presence of E. coli and Coliform bacteria in refillable drinking water produced by depots in Rural Indonesia. The sampling method in this study used simple random sampling method. For the analysis of E. coli and Coliform bacteria, the Most Probable Number (MPN) method was used and identification of Coliform types based on biochemical tests (TSIA, SIM, citrate, urease). The results showed that five samples tested were positive for Coliform >0/100 mL and three samples contained E. coli. The hygiene of both operators and consumers is an important factor in producing quality drinking water. The five depots showed that none of the operators cared about their own hygiene.