RE: Laboratory Methods for E. coli and Enterococcus

["Taylor, Christopher" <Christopher.Taylor@ci.toledo.oh.us>]

Hi:

Here in Northern Ohio, we use the Idexx method for enumerating E. coli in
recreational waters. It's an 18 hour test that seems to work well. Check out
www.idexx.com for more info. They also have developed a rapid(24 hrs) test
for Enterococcus.

Hope this helps.

Chris Taylor
Chief Chemist
Toledo Water Division



-----Original Message-----
From: Terbush, Karen (ALB) [mailto:Karen.Terbush@oprhp.state.ny.us]
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 11:06 AM
To: Great lakes Beach Net
Subject: Laboratory Methods for E. coli and Enterococcus


Hello, 
I am from New York State Parks and Recreation.  We operate 62 public beaches
all over New York State.  Some of them are on the great lakes, some on the
Atlantic Ocean and most on freshwater inland lakes.  For the past couple of
years we have been trying to provide guidance to our parks regarding beach
monitoring so that monitoring procedures are uniform all over the state.  
In New York state our bathing beach Standards are still for Total and Fecal
Coliform.  However, based on EPA's recommendations, we have asked all of our
beaches this year to also monitor for enterococcus or E. coli.
The problem is this:  Many of the labs have not even heard of enterococcus
and don't know what methods to use.  For E. coli, many are unfamiliar with
techniques to enumerate the organisms.  I have provided some of the labs
with the procedures recommended by EPA but some have run into problems
obtaining the reagents needed for these tests.
When I attended the Great Lakes Beach Conference in 2000, it seemed that we
were way behind the rest of you when it came to using these better
indicators.  Could folks please give me some advice on methods and
techniques being used for E. coli and Enterococcus (24 hour tests) and where
reagents can be obtained?
I'd appreciate any information you can provide.
Thank you.

Karen B. Terbush
Sr. Environmental Analyst
NYS Office of Parks,Recreation
and Historic Preservation
Environmental Management Bureau
Agency Bldg. 1, Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12238
(518) 474-0409
Fax 474-7013



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