Microbial Growths in POU/POE treatment devices

Heterotrophic bacteria are found all around us, including in our drinking water. Many studies have shown POU/POE devices support the growth of heterotrophic bacteria and cause an increase in HPC levels. However, extensive scientific evidence has consistently verified heterotrophic bacteria present in POU and POE devices pose no health risk, and that these heterotrophic bacteria decrease the levels of harmful pathogens due to bio-competitive exclusion. Thus, it is the position of WQA that the presence of heterotrophic bacteria and measurement of HPC levels in drinking water should not be used to correlate or imply a health risk.