Environmental Services
Program
- ESP Home Page
- Env. Emergency Response System
- Investigating Hazardous Wastes
- Responding to Env. Emergencies
- Air Quality Monitoring
- Air Pollution Bid Requests
- Water Quality Monitoring
- Chemical Analysis
- Report an Environmental Concern
- Homeland Security
- Methamphetamine
- Standard Operating Procedures
Fecal Coliform Analysis
Fecal coliforms are a portion of the total group of coliform bacteria that are
present in the intestines and feces of warm-blooded animals.
The presence of fecal coliform bacteria is an indication that pathogenic bacteria may be present. Fecal coliform analysis is used to determine the
degree of pollution and/or the sanitary quality of a water body or wastewater
discharge system.
WQMS uses the membrane filter technique which involves filtering a water sample through a
membrane to trap bacteria that are present in the sample. This filter is then placed
on growth media and incubated at 44.5°C for 24 hours. The combination of
selective media and high temperature favors the growth of fecal coliform bacteria
while suppressing the growth of non-fecal coliform bacteria.
