Comparison of fecal coliform enumeration methods for field analysis in resource limited regions

Volume 2, Issue 2, April 2017     |     PP. 53-66      |     PDF (491 K)    |     Pub. Date: June 19, 2017
DOI:    271 Downloads     7212 Views  

Author(s)

Elmira Nazar, M.Sc. Environmental Science, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University of Oklahoma, 202 W. Boyd St. Norman, OK 73019
Keith A. Strevett* Ph.D., Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University of Oklahoma, 202 W. Boyd St. Norman, OK 73019

Abstract
Fecal enumeration is a key factor in determining the quality of a water source. Accuracy and reliability of fecal analysis is dependent upon several variables, viz. incubation temperature, specific conductivity, pH, nutrient availability, population density, suspended solids concentration, etc. The goal of this study was to determine if a correlation exists between the three common field water testing methods (Easy-Gel method, MilliporeTM Membrane Filtration method and the 3MTM Petrifilm method) of fecal coliform enumeration and temperature fluctuation or population density. Field test methods were examined using varying incubation temperatures and population densities. Results of fecal enumeration from each of the field test methods were compared to a standard test method (MF-8074) under standard operating conditions. Regression correlations for each of the field test methods were establish to determine method reliability under non-ideal conditions. Study results indicated that temperature fluxuations and population density did adversely affect the accuracy of fecal enumeration on all field test methods.

Keywords
drinking water, emerging regions, fecal coliform, surface water, water quality testing

Cite this paper
Elmira Nazar, Keith A. Strevett* Ph.D., Comparison of fecal coliform enumeration methods for field analysis in resource limited regions , SCIREA Journal of Environment. Volume 2, Issue 2, April 2017 | PP. 53-66.

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