Water Plate Count Agar

Water Plate Count Agar is a non-selective medium which conforms to ISO 6222:1999, and is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions in humans. Water Plate Count Agar allows the enumeration of culturable microorganisms, which can be used for the assessment and surveillance of water quality. Colony counts are useful for assessment of ground water integrity and the efficiency of water treatment processes. They also give an indication of the cleanliness and integrity of the distribution system. They can be used to assess the suitability of a water supply for the preparation of food and drink, thus avoiding contamination of the product with spoilage organisms. The main value of colony counts lies in the detection of changes in water supply quality from those expected, based on frequent long-term monitoring. A sudden increase in the numbers can be a warning of pollution and can call for immediate remedial action.