Background and purpose: Due to inadequate quantity and low quality of water resources in rural regions of Gomishan (Golestan province), local residents use cisterns for household water. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the hygienic situation of these cisterns. 

Materials and methods: In this study, water samples were obtained from 31 villages using random sampling (two times; total number of samples=406). Bacteriological tests were carried out by standard methods. The relationship between hygienic situation of cisterns and bacteriological quality of water were statistically analyzed.

Results: A total of 406 water samples was examined by measuring total coliform and fecal coliform, in which. 94 samples (23.14%) showed total coliform and 28 sample (6.89%) showed fecal coliform. A significant relationship was observed between hygienic status of cisterns and bacteriological pollution (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Microbial contamination in the studied cisterns calls for sanitizing the cistern in the region and changing the drinking water resources.