How to Detect E.Coli in the Water

Testing your Own Water

• 1

  Determine if you have a public or private water system. Most Americans have a public water system that is automatically tested annually. If it E. coli is found in your drinking water, it is required, by law, that you are informed. If you have a private water system, proceed with the following steps to test for E. coli contamination.

• 2

  Purchase a water monitoring kit for testing E. coli, such as 3M Petrifilm, Coliscan Easgygel or a Coliscan membrane filter. Add your water sample to the solution according to your kit's instructions. Depending on which kit you selected, you may be required to add the sample to a liquid solution in a petri dish, or pour it through a filter.

• 3

  Allow the mixture to sit for a specified time per your kit's instructions, typically 24 to 48 hours. Pay attention to special instructions, such as whether you need to cover your petri dish.

• 4

  Count any blue or purple groups in your sample. These are E. Coli bacteria.

Contracting a Lab to Test Water

• 5

  Contact your state's laboratory certification officer for recommendations on laboratories certified in E. coli testing. This officer can be found by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791, or by visiting the Environmental Protection Agency's website at water.epa.gov.

• 6

  Call various water-testing laboratories in your area to obtain pricing and instructions for testing water for E. coli. Once you have determined which laboratory you will go with, follow their instructions for obtaining a water sample. The laboratory will likely provide you with a sample tube for collecting your own sample and returning it to them.

• 7

  Wait for the water test results report to be returned to you from the laboratory. If you are having difficulty understanding the report, contact the laboratory for clarification.