No fecal coliform found in samples from Baguio’s main water provider

TRACING CAUSE A worker from the Baguio City health office checks a water sample for contaminants as the local government tries to establish the cause of the outbreak of acute gastroenteritis and diarrhea in the summer capital. —PHOTO COURTESY OF BAGUIO CITY HEALTH OFFICE

MANILA, Philippines — No fecal coliform was found in the water samples taken in the main supplier of water in Baguio City.

The Baguio Water District (BWD) made the announcement on Friday amid the acute gastroenteritis outbreak in the city.

READ: Gastroenteritis outbreak declared in Baguio

“Results of the initial microbiological test on water samples collected from various water sources of the BWD showed ‘negative’ for thermotolerant coliform organisms (commonly referred to as fecal coliforms),” the BWD said in a statement.

The state-owned water provider said the samples were collected from BWD water sources supplying most of the Central Business District.

Baguio has declared a gastroenteritis outbreak following a sharp increase in its cases.

Over 2,000 gastroenteritis cases were reported in the city to date.