Detection Methods for Microbiological Indicators in Drinking Water

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Does anyone know quick detection methods for microbiological indicators in drinking water?

( Escherichia coli, Enterococci, Clostridium perfringens, Number of colonies at 22 °C, Number of colonies at 37 ° C).

Thanks in advance.

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13 Answers

  3. Dear Anghel

    If your purpose is monitoring compliance to prescribed standards in regulations (e.g. EU Drinking Water Directive) , then your choice of methods is limited to culture based techniques.

    The United Kingdom maintains a series of publications on methods for microbiological examination of drinking water that includes all the organisms on your list (see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standing-committee-of-analysts-sca-blue-books). 

    The European Microbiology Expert Group maintains a list of the techniques that the European Commission will accept  as alternatives to the the methods specified in the Drinking Water Directive. (see: https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/communities/community/emeg ). 

    For operational purposes you are free to use any method. A number of options are available and the previous replies have provided a selection of what is available. In addition, there are online  systems (e.g. MicroLan) for detection of indicator bacteria and total activity. Flow cytometry has proved popular amongst water utilities to give an indication of total microbial count. A web search should provide more information on these systems.

    I hope this helps with your decision.

    Kind regards

    Robert

     

    1 Comment

  4. Our Speedy Breedy Respirometer may be able to help you - http://www.speedybreedy.com/industries/water/

    Speedy Breedy is an easy to use, portable, precision respirometer that has been designed for both industrial and laboratory applications.

  5. Hi Anghel, Please check out the KIT ATP2G from #aqua-tools http://www.aqua-tools.com/en/human-consumption-water/. Although it doesn't segment specific bacteria, it can provide you in 10 minuts information about the microbiological load in the drinking water. If it turns to be out of range, you can take corrective measures right away at the same time you confirm in the lab which microbes were present in the water. Instead of waiting 5 to 10 days for lab results, you take corrective decisions in 10-15 minuts on the field. Please take at Aqua-tools website.

    Regards,

    Marta

  6.  

    1. Rapid seven-hour fecal coliform

    Appl Environ Microbiol. 1979 Aug; 38(2): 229–236.  D J Reasoner, J C Blannon, and E E Geldreich

    2. Water Quality Monitoring - A Practical Guide to the Design and Implementation of Freshwater Quality Studies and Monitoring Programmes Edited by Jamie Bartram and Richard Ballance Published on behalf of United Nations Environment Programme and the World Health Organization © 1996 UNEP/WHO ISBN 0 419 22320 7 (Hbk) 0 419 21730 4 (Pbk)

  10.  I have 2 sources to choose from.

    1. The top choice is always International Ag Labs.  If it is a test kit..... they have it or will design one to fit your needs. 

     2. An electronic device if I remember correctly is called a Hyphal diameter.  This identifies the hyphal of microbes and their energy levels to determine how many  microbes are present and if are one of three groups. Archaea, bacteria, fungi.  Mainly for farmers. But a great first step for a yes or no on the presence of microbes.  Most county agents or state/provincial ag labs have self help kits.  

  11. See www.tecta-pds.com. The Tecta-B16 is an automated, rapid microbial detection system for E.coli, coliforms and enterococci. The system is the only automated microbial detection system with US EPA approval for drinking water compliance testing.   It offers laboratory-grade results at low concentrations along with rapid detection at high concentrations. Method is not affected by turbidity, sample color, or high bacteria loads, and also has early alerting function via email notification. Few materials attached here. 

  12. Colilert (https://www.idexx.com/water/products/colilert.html) for total coliforms and E. coli, Hygiena AquaSnap (https://www.hygiena.com/aquasnap-food-and-beverage.html) ATP is a good immediate indicator of total microbial presence. 

  13. Presence of E. coli in drinking water could be assessed by filtering 100 mL of water through a 0.45 micron membrane filter (Millipore Microfil®) using a new low-cost filtration apparatus. The membrane filter is then placed on to Compact Dry E. coli growth media plates (Nissui). Incubation could be done keeping the plates close to the body in pocket to maintain a temperature of ≥30°C even during the night. After 24 hours, the number of blue colonies, signifying the presence of E. coli colony forming units (cfu) on the plats.