Globally, at least 2 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with feces, posing high risk to human health largely owing to the presence of pathogenic microbes therein. Microbiologically contaminated drinking water can transmit diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio and is estimated to cause 485,000 diarrhoeal deaths each year (WHO, 2022).
To detect such contaminations with confidence, broad knowledge base and expertise in microbiological analysis and research plays an integral role.
BRC is well known in industry and regulatory circle for its domain knowledge and contributes immensely in the area of water microbiology as expert in scientific and technical committees of organizations viz BIS, WQIA, ICCW.
What makes us special?
At BRC, we have coined a niche for ourselves to emerge as a trusted name in research and microbiological testing of water & water purifiers. Our labs are fully equipped to ensure the water is tested for highest standards of purity and helps the industry gain trust from our consumers.
We take pride in our decade plus experience in carrying out a diverse set of water purifier testing that has immensely benefited our partner companies. Our best-in-class expertise and specialized skill sets make us worthy members of “Expert Committee at BIS”.
4 Major Categories of Water Testing undertaken at BRC
(NABL accredited)
Detection of fecal contamination in water
Products Tested
- Drinking water
- Packaged drinking water
- Packaged natural mineral water
- Water for processed food industry
Specific Tests Performed
| Test Parameters | Reference Test Methods |
|---|---|
| Coliforms | IS 15185 |
| E. coli | IS 15185 |
| Fecal Streptococci | IS 15186 |
Determination of microbial load in water
Products Tested
- Packaged drinking water
- Packaged natural mineral water
- Water for processed food industry
Specific Tests Performed
| Test Parameters | Reference Test Methods |
|---|---|
| Total Viable Colony Count @ 22o C for 72hrs | IS 5402 |
| Total Viable Colony Count @ 37o C for 24hrs | IS 5402 |
| Yeast and mold count | IS 5403 |
| Standard plate count | IS 1622 |
Pathogen/disease-causing germs detection in water
Products Tested
- Packaged drinking water
- Packaged natural mineral water
Specific Tests
| Test Parameters | Reference Test Methods |
|---|---|
| Salmonella spp | IS 15187 |
| Shigella spp | IS 5887 (Part VII) |
| S. aureus | IS 5887 (Part II) |
| Sulphite reducing anaerobes | IS 13428 |
| Vibrio parahaemolyticus | IS 5887 (Part V) |
| Vibrio cholerae | IS 5887 (Part V) |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | IS 13428 |
Determination of microbes with potential to cause food spoilage
Products Tested
- Water for processed food industry
Specific Tests
| Test Parameters | Reference Test Methods |
|---|---|
| Proteolytic organisms | IS 4251 |
| Lipolytic organisms | IS 4251 |
Water Purifier Testing
Performance evaluation of purifiers for microbiological quality.
- Purifiers with different technologies including filtration, UV and reverse osmosis can be tested
- Besides standard test cultures, multiple other pathogens and nuisance microorganisms reduction can be evaluated
- Protocols used are as defined by NSF/ANSI, BIS, WHO, USEPA
Exclusive Projects done with the Water & Water Purifier Industry
- Evaluation of bacterial reduction using solar powered UV measurement device
- Evaluation of risk associated with E. coli (pathogenic) in stored water using QMRA: A real-time surveillance of an urban slum pocket
- Designing surrogate for assessment of inactivation of Cryptosporidium spp. using ozone in water treatment system
- Analyzing health risk from available water in urban slum of Mumbai city and an effort to mitigate the situation by applying Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA).
- Microbiological performance of novel household water treatment devices in India
- Method validation program conducted by Water Quality Association (WQA) for assessment of microbiological performance of water purifiers with exclusion, chemical (disinfection) and UV-based technology