E. coli in Drinking Water
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Fungal Sampling Information
Non-Fungal Sampling
Information
Chain of Custody (Normal)
Qualtest, Inc.   2458 Alton Parkway   Irvine, CA   92606 Phone: (949) 838-0378
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Introduction

    Qualtest, Inc. offers the simultaneous detection and confirmation of total
    coliforms and E. coli in water. Qualtest is capable of detecting Escherichia coli
    in drinking water, ground water or surface water using Colilert®.

General Information

    E. coli is a type of fecal coliform bacteria commonly found in the intestines of
    animals and humans. E. coli is short for Escherichia coli.

Source of E. coli Contamination

    The presence of E. coli in water is a strong indication of recent sewage or
    animal waste contamination. Sewage may contain many types of disease-
    causing organisms including E. coli.

Fecal Coliform Bacteria

    Fecal coliforms are bacteria that are associated with human or animal wastes.
    They usually live in human or animal intestinal tracts, and their presence in
    drinking water is a strong indication of recent sewage or animal waste
    contamination.

E. coli or Fecal Coliform Bacteria in the Water

    E. coli comes from human and animal wastes. During rainfalls, snow melts, or
    other types of precipitation, E. coli may be washed into creeks, rivers,
    streams, lakes, or groundwater. When these waters are used as sources of
    drinking water and the water is not treated or inadequately treated, E. coli
    may end up in drinking water.

Spread of E. coli

    E. coli from the stool of infected persons can be spread by contact or by
    drinking sewage contaminated drinking water. This is the concern in flooded
    areas. It can also be spread to others if hygiene is inadequate. Another source
    of infection is from contaminated food, for example, from eating
    contaminated meat from animals infected with pathogenic E. coli.

Health Effects of E. coli O157:H7

    E. coli O157:H7 is one of hundreds of strains of E. coli. Most of the strains are
    harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals. E. coli
    O157:H7 strain produces a powerful toxin and can cause severe illness.
    Infection often causes severe bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps;
    although sometimes the infection can cause non-bloody diarrhea.

People Who Are at Greater Risk

    Children under the age of five, the elderly, and people whose health is
    weakened (i.e., people who have long-term illnesses such as cancer or AIDS)
    are at greater risk of severe illness.

The Safety of Your Drinking Water


Water Filters and E. coli

Most in-home filters will not be useful for E. coli elimination. The EPA recommends
that you boil your water if you are concerned about its safety.

    Water Test Analysis

Sample Collection Procedure

Water samples must be taken in approved, sterile sampling containers, which our
laboratory can provide upon request. Treated (municipality / distribution systems)
water samples must be de-chlorinated with sodium thio-sulfate (this is already in
bottles that would be provided by our laboratory). Keep the sampling bottle closed
until it is to be filled.

  • Tap Water Sample

    To test the content of your well or city water, flush the water for 5 to 10
    minutes before collecting. Rinse the sample container several times with the
    water to be tested, fill and close tightly.

    To find out if pipes or filtering systems are contributing to poor water
    quality, sample the water in the morning, before any flushing has been done.
    Have a clean sample container ready, fill and close tightly.

    Water must be collected in a sterilized container and brought to the Qualtest
    laboratory for testing as soon as possible (within 6 hours after water has been
    collected.)

    100 mL is needed for each sample submitted for analysis.

  • Well Samples

    If a sample is taken from a well fitted with a hand pump, pump water to
    waste for about 5 minutes before collecting the sample. If the well is equipped
    with a mechanical pump, collect sample from a tap on the discharge. If there
    is no pumping machinery, collect sample directly from the well by means of a
    sterilized bottle fitted with a weight at the base; take care to avoid
    contaminating sample by any surface scum.

Summary of Method

    This method is based on Defined Substrate Technology. It utilizes nutrient
    indicators that produce color/florescence when metabolized by total
    coliforms and E. coli. When the reagent is added to the sample and incubated,
    it can detect these bacteria at 1 CFU/100mL within 18 to 24 hours.

Scope and Application

    This method is intended for use in simultaneous detection and confirmation
    of total coliforms and E. coli in water. Any positive sample for total coliforms
    is an indication of contamination. Any positive sample for both total coliforms
    and E. coli is an acute violation.

    Colilert® method can be applied to fresh water, drinking water and waste
    water. It is not intended for use with marine water.

Why using Colilert® Method

  • Proven

    The test is an EPA approved method for determination of compliance with
    requirements of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Public
    Water Supplies and the Surface Water Treatment Rule promulgated under the
    Safe Drinking Water Act.

    More that 90% of U.S. State labs use Colilert® method.

  • Accurate

    Identifies coliforms and E.coli simultaneously.

    Detects a single viable coliform or  E.coli per sample.

  • Rapid

    Detects total coliforms and E. coli in 24 hours or less.

    Colilert-18® takes just 18 hours.

    No confirmations needed.

Reporting Results

    Report results as Presence or Absence for total coliforms and E. coli.

Chain of Custody

    Must contain sampling date, time sampled, and sample source. This is needed
    to determine whether or not samples are within hold times and analysis
    procedure.

Transportation  of Samples

    All samples must be kept cold (not frozen) and should remain upright during
    transportation. The best way to do this is to use ice packs. Samples that are
    not transported properly could end up getting contaminated or rejected. All
    samples must be analyzed within 6 hours of sample collection.
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Qualtest, Inc.