The direct viable count (DVC) and plate count (PC) methods was used to measure the number of bacteria in potable groundwater samples collected from bottled water from the market, mineral water, and edible groundwater near the urban areas and the stock...
The direct viable count (DVC) and plate count (PC) methods was used to measure the number of bacteria in potable groundwater samples collected from bottled water from the market, mineral water, and edible groundwater near the urban areas and the stock farming congested areas. As a result, the number of living bacteria by DVC was comprised 30~80% of the total direct count (TDC), whereas the number of living bacteria by PC was around l~30% of DVC. Such results show that viable but non-culturable (VBNC) bacteria exist in the potable groundwater with high percentages. On the other hand, upon measuring the value from the conventional nutrient broth (NB), $10^-2$ fold diluted nutrient broth (DNB), and R2A broth, the values from the DNB and R2A showed 2~50 times higher than the conventional NB medium. These results indicate that oligotrophic bacterial groups which can multiply in the low nutrient broth abundantly exist in the oligotrophic environment like potable groundwater.