RE: Laboratory Methods for E. coli and Enterococcus

["Ram, Jeffrey" <jeffram@med.wayne.edu>]

Another reference to ambient water testing technology that I have found useful is in the Federal Register:
"Guidelines establishing test procedures for the analysis of pollutants:  analytical methods for biological pollutants in ambient water; proposed rule"
"40 CFR Part 136" by the Environmental Protection Agency"  August 30, 2001. Federal Register, Vol. 66:  45811-45829.  (You can find a PDF document of this by searching the Federal Register web site, at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html
for the year 2001, proposed rules, using the search term "ambient water")

	Until now, the EPA approved method for ambient waters has been mTEC and a modified mTEC method; however, the above document describes and proposes approval of a number of other methods.  It specifically names and describes Colilert/IDEXX Quanti-Tray (an MPN method) and mColi-Blue24 (for membrane filtration).  Since these are only "proposed rules," I called EPA to find out when the final rule might be issued and was told most likely in the Fall, 2002.  
	Several local agencies in southeast Michigan (Oakland County, Macomb County) have been using Colilert/IDEXX for several years because of its much lower labor requirements (despite its higher supply cost).  It's nice to know that most likely (assuming the proposed rules become final) the methods that many of our agencies have been using will receive EPA's stamp of approval.
	
Jeff Ram
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Dr. Jeffrey L. Ram     jeffram@med.wayne.edu
Department of Physiology   tel: 313 577-1558
Wayne State University     fax: 313 577-5494
Detroit, MI 48201
http://sun.science.wayne.edu/~jram/ramlab.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  


-----Original Message-----
From: Jiyoung Lee [mailto:jylee@umich.edu]
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 2:24 PM
To: Taylor, Christopher; beachnet@great-lakes.net
Subject: RE: Laboratory Methods for E. coli and Enterococcus


Hi,

For testing E. coli and enterococci in bathing beach water, please look up
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater by APHA. E.
coli methods are under 9231D and enterococci methods are under 9230C.  The
recommended methods are membrane filtration technique with selective media
(mTEC agar for E. coli and mE agar for enterococci).  The book shows the
recipe so you can make the selective medium if you have all the materials.
mTEC is commercially available (e.g. Difco). I haven't checked the
availability of mE yet.

As Chris Taylor mentioned, IDEXX Colilert and Quantitray are also widely
used methods. I hope it helps.

Jiyoung Lee, Ph.D
School of Public Health
University of Michigan

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net
[mailto:owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net]On Behalf Of Taylor, Christopher
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 1:50 PM
To: 'beachnet@great-lakes.net'
Subject: RE: Laboratory Methods for E. coli and Enterococcus


Hi:

Here in Northern Ohio, we use the Idexx method for enumerating E. coli in
recreational waters. It's an 18 hour test that seems to work well. Check out
www.idexx.com for more info. They also have developed a rapid(24 hrs) test
for Enterococcus.

Hope this helps.

Chris Taylor
Chief Chemist
Toledo Water Division



-----Original Message-----
From: Terbush, Karen (ALB) [mailto:Karen.Terbush@oprhp.state.ny.us]
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 11:06 AM
To: Great lakes Beach Net
Subject: Laboratory Methods for E. coli and Enterococcus


Hello,
I am from New York State Parks and Recreation.  We operate 62 public beaches
all over New York State.  Some of them are on the great lakes, some on the
Atlantic Ocean and most on freshwater inland lakes.  For the past couple of
years we have been trying to provide guidance to our parks regarding beach
monitoring so that monitoring procedures are uniform all over the state.
In New York state our bathing beach Standards are still for Total and Fecal
Coliform.  However, based on EPA's recommendations, we have asked all of our
beaches this year to also monitor for enterococcus or E. coli.
The problem is this:  Many of the labs have not even heard of enterococcus
and don't know what methods to use.  For E. coli, many are unfamiliar with
techniques to enumerate the organisms.  I have provided some of the labs
with the procedures recommended by EPA but some have run into problems
obtaining the reagents needed for these tests.
When I attended the Great Lakes Beach Conference in 2000, it seemed that we
were way behind the rest of you when it came to using these better
indicators.  Could folks please give me some advice on methods and
techniques being used for E. coli and Enterococcus (24 hour tests) and where
reagents can be obtained?
I'd appreciate any information you can provide.
Thank you.

Karen B. Terbush
Sr. Environmental Analyst
NYS Office of Parks,Recreation
and Historic Preservation
Environmental Management Bureau
Agency Bldg. 1, Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12238
(518) 474-0409
Fax 474-7013



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