1. BTEC 223 Lab Exercise Water Module
Water Quality Fecal Indicator Test
Yeggie Dearborn
EMSA 22
CCSF

2. Parameters: Fecal Indicator
Fecal indicator bacteria are used to assess the microbiological quality of water because, although not typically disease causing, they are correlated with the presence of several waterborne disease-causing organisms.
The concentration of indicator bacteria is a measure of water safety for body-contact recreation or for consumption
Enterococcus causes illness in humans True or false? False
Enterococcus is an indicator of fecal contamination; it does not cause illness directly
E. coli can be used as an indicator of fecal contamination in both fresh and marine waters  True  False
E. coli is a valid indicator in fresh waters only

3. Criteria for selecting an indicator of fecal contamination in water
The preferred fecal indicator:
Can be tested easily
Is of human or other animal origin
Survives as long as, or longer than, pathogens
Is present at densities correlated with fecal contamination
Is appropriate for fresh and saline aqueous environments
Criteria for selecting an indicator of fecal contamination in water

4. Indicator Bacteria Total Coliform Bacteria
Fecal Coliform Bacteria (subset of Total coliform)
E.coli ( a fecal coliform indicator)
Fecal Streptococci
Enterococci (a fecal indicator)
The presence in water of E. coli, and often enterococci, is direct evidence of fecal contamination from warm-blooded animals.

5. Which Fecal indicator to use?
Type of indicator to use depends on regulation
associated with the water type being tested
Recreational water: Enterococci
Shellfish growing water: Total Coliform, Fecal Coliform
Drinking water : total coliform if present them E.coli
Public water system may be required to test for viruses and parasites

6. Lab Demonstration : Presence/Absence Coliform analysis of Recreational water
Last Saturday we collected two water (ocean) samples for E.coli & Enterococci (Both fecal coliforms)
We will look at the results and compare with Known Positive samples
-Test kit for Coliform analysis (Presence/absence) method follow protocol

7. Lab Report Prepare a two page report with following components:
-Introduction- Brief background on Coliforms in recreational water
-Sample collection procedure
-Analysis procedure
-Results/Discussion of results including EPA requirement for maximum contaminant for coliforms and fecal coliforms in recreational water & what is needed to be done if fecal coliforms are present in the sample.