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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Program Staff
    • AWW Association
    • Volunteer Trainers
    • Contact Us
  • Resources
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Monitoring Materials
    • Publications
    • Videos
  • Water Data
    • Water Data
      • Data From Table
      • Data From Map
      • Advanced Data Tools
        • Site Radial Search
        • Site Comparison
        • AWW Atypical Values
        • E.coli Reports
    • AWW Data Stats
    • Data Entry
    • AWW Water Data Tutorial
  • Get Involved
    • Get Certified As A Water Monitor
    • Special Projects
    • Success Stories
    • Support Alabama Water Watch
  • Environmental Education
    • 4-H AWW Program
    • Educator Workshops
    • 4-H AWW Curricula
    • Rivers of Alabama
  • Events
E.coli plate

Bacteriological Monitoring

Detect levels of E.coli and other coliform bacteria in water as indicators of contamination. Determine if water meets water quality standards for drinking, swimming and aquatic life.

Ready To Get Certified? Check Out Our Events Calendar.

Supplies

A test kit includes enough supplies to collect three replicate samples at each sampling site. The average of three replicates provides a much more reliable estimate of the actual number of bacterial colonies than a single sample.

METHOD 1: Media, Petri Dishes & Pipettes

General – Bacteria Test Supplies (3 replicates per sample)
Approximately $11 – $12 (depending on quantity discounts; does not include tax or shipping charges)

Coliscan® EasyGel® Media & Pre-treated Petri Dishes (Catalog no. 25001)
$3.44 – $3.74 per replicate (depending on quantity discounts)

Order Media & Dishes
Order 1 mL Pipettes

1-mL sterile-wrapped pipettes (Catalog no. DRP01)
$0.29 each

Supply Vendor Information::

Micrology Laboratories Inc
12441 Beckley St
Granger IN 46530

Contact: Doug Wengerd

Email: info@micrologylabs.com

Phone: 888-327-9435
NEW Phone: 574-970-3174
NEW Fax: 574-970-3170
Phone: 888-327-9435

Micrology Labs contact information & updates

METHOD 2: R-CARD® & Pipettes

General – Bacteria Test Supplies (3 replicates per sample)
Approximately $8.50 – $11 (depending on quantity discounts; does not include tax or shipping charges)

R-CARD® ECC-A (patent pending) (sold in packs of 25, 100, and 500)
$2.55 – $3.15 per replicate (depending on quantity discounts)

Order R-CARD® ECC-A

1-mL sterile-wrapped pipettes (sold in packs of 10, 25, and 100)
$0.30-$0.50 each (depending on quantity discounts)

Order 1 mL Pipettes

Supply Vendor Information::

Roth Bioscience, LLC
1303 Eisenhower Drive S.
Goshen, IN 46525

Phone: 574-533-3351
Email: hello@rothbioscience.com

Roth Bioscience contact information

Incubator

The incubator for culturing bacterial samples can be made for less than $10. A small cooler or other type of insulated container with a lid may be used as an incubator. Uniform temperatures may be maintained using a small light bulb such as a night-light attached to an extension cord. Use a piece of cardboard or plastic to shield the sample plates from direct light. A thermostat is not needed. The number and/or wattage of bulbs may be adjusted to maintain the proper temperatures, depending on the ambient room temperature and size of incubator. For example, a 4-watt bulb in a 1 cubic foot container usually makes a good incubator. A thermometer is needed to determine ambient incubator temperature. This can be obtained from the AWW water chemistry test kit or a dial thermometer found in garden centers and hardware stores. The thermometer should be placed within the incubator away from the heat source or inserted through the lid so temperature may be read without opening the container.

A Hova-Bator Table Top Incubator is a high-quality, economic option from GQF Manufacturing Company.

Order Hova-Bator w/ Wafer Thermostat
Order Hova-Bator w/ Electronic Thermostat

Thermometer

A thermometer (in Celcius) is needed to take air and water temperature readings while sampling. AWW recommends the HB EnviroSafe 6 “Easy Read” Armor Case Thermometer from Forestry Suppliers.

Order Thermometers

Miscellaneous Supplies

Various small supplies for sample transport and preparation will be needed, most of which can be easily purchased in stores or online.

Insulated Lunch Box – for transporting samples in the filed and back to the incubator. Remember you must keep samples cool after collection and shield from sunlight as much as possible (see photo to left for two examples).

Ice Pack – for keeping samples cool until plating

Clear Tape – for securing pre-treated petri dishes

Permanent Marker/Sharpie – for labeling media bottles and petri dishes by sample site

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CONTACT

ALABAMA WATER WATCH
1 (888) 844-4785
awwprog@auburn.edu

Auburn University Water Resources Center
ALFA Agricultural Services and Research Building
961 S Donahue Drive
Auburn, AL 36849

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*Links to external websites are provided for informational purposes only. They do not constitute as an endorsement or approval of the products, services, or opinions of the organization.