Abstract
Potable water is essential and can be a potential disease transmitting mean. That’s why monitoring of the water quality is necessary so that it won’t be a bacteria infection source for the ingestive. The water for
human consumption must be free of Escherichia coli or thermotolerant coliform in 100mL. For heterotrophic bacteria, it can’t overcome 500 CFU/mL. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the microbiological quality of the water for the presence of heterotrophic bacteria, total coliform and thermotolerant consumed in the water fountains in the hospital of South Minas Gerais, Brazil. Samples of the water were taken during the months of september and november of 2010. One sample was collected from each water fountain and one from the artesian well. For the heterotrophic bacteria count the technique used was depth cultivation and for the total coliform and thermotolerant the technique of the the most probable number. Of the 49 samples, ten presented counts of heterotrophic bacteria above the permitted and one presented presence of total coliforms. The obtained results demonstrate prevalence of heterotrophic bacteria contamination and possible disease causer.