In article <Pine.SOL.3.90.950615135357.9260A-100000 at ug>, redwood at UG.CS.DAL.CA (Ira Redwood) says:
>> Hi
>Are there any simple, do-at-home type tests that someone could do to
>merely test for the presence of coliform? I've read of the more
>complicated ones that identify and quantify the bacteria, but I have a
>landowner that simply wants to test to see if there's a presence, and
>avoid the high cost of getting repeated tests done. Any ideas?
>>****************************************************************************
> Ira (Red Dog) Redwood | My Heart Is:
> Advanced Major |
> Environmental Science | Canadian First, Eh!
> Dalhousie University |
> Halifax, Nova Scotia | Albertan Second, Bud!
> Canada |
>redwood at ug.cs.dal.ca | Nova Scotian T'ird, B'ye!
>****************************************************************************
>>Red Dog,
The closest that I know of that comes to a home test is the Colilert test
(Environetics-Access Analytical). This is a 24 hour test at 35C so it would
require a an incubator. It would also require a Wood's lamp (blacklight).
The test is a premeasured powder which is placed in a nonflourescing vessel
incubated for 24 hours and then observed for yellow color (positive total
coliform) and fluorescence (positive E. coli). A comparator is provided
with each lot purchased for interpretive purposes. But even with this
relative ease of use it is not a "home test". Since very few home-owners
would relish the idea of purchasing a 35 +/- 0.5 C incubator no matter how
troublesome their well. A true home test for coliforms I don't believe
really exists right now. And I wonder given the importance of individuals
having truly safe potable water if this is something that should ever be
done in the home setting rather than in a qualified lab.
Regards,
D White
