Hi,

I am a newbie, so bear with me.  I have been asked to help with a watershed assessment. I need to know how to test for e-coli in surface waters?

Any help would be appreciated.

Do you want to do the testing yourself?  If so, there is going to be a lot of equipment and testing you will have to get and do before you can even start.  I would recommend finding a good environmental lab in your area and talk with them about it.  Make sure you know if you need a Presence/Absence test or an enumeration.  Any good lab should be able to provide you with sterile bottles to collect the samples and even collection services if you so desire.  If you are in SC, or even within an hour or two drive of Columbia, I can help you out.  If not, just check your state environmental monitoring department and see if they have a list of certified labs.

I use dipslides for this purpose as they are effective and generally good value.  However, you will need to purchase an incubator which is more expensive.  Although, there are smaller incubators that are more economical.