Rapid, Specific, Defined Substrate Technology Colilert System for the Simultaneous Detection of Total Coliforms and Escherichia coli from Water

Potable water is subject to microbial contamination from a variety of sources. Microbes may enter a water supply as a consequence of cross-connections, back flow, disturbances during repairs, and back-siphonage. In addition, bacteria, including the total coliform group, may establish residence in distribution systems and become long-term inhabitants of its biofilm population (Ludwig et al. 1985; Edberg et al. 1986). The current means of analysis of water does not provide sufficient information to allow a water utility to ascertain the exact nature of its microbial problem. There is no membrane filter (MF) or multiple-tube fermentation (MTF) method that analyzes for a fecal-specific bacterial indicator. In addition, present methods are labor-intensive and costly and preclude the sampling of water supplies on an on-going basis. Monitoring is also infrequent. It is often days after an event that water companies and public health authorities have enough information to make decisions.