Procedure+E.+Coli

Danny Bates
 * E. Coli**
 * E. Coli is an important test because it measures the amount of feces in the water. It is ranked 2nd most important weighting factor in the Q tables when measuring how healthy a body of water is.
 * Materials to bring from class: red tackle box
 * **Procedure IN THE FIELD**
 * Clean the end of the forceps with the lighter to clean off any possible bacteria that might be on them.
 * Unscrew the Millipore Filter, and using the cleaned forceps, place the grid paper on the filter part grid side up. Then screw the "cup" section back on.
 * Attatch the syringe to the rubber tube, and the tube to the bottom part of the Millipore filter.
 * Collect 10mL of water from the source being tested, and pour it into the "cup" part of the Millipore filter over the grid paper. Then attach the top to the cup part.
 * Put your finger over the remaining hole of the base of the Millipore, and pull on the syringe. This will cause the water to be suctioned through the grid paper and the filter. Then, take your finger off the hole, push the syringe back in. Then, put your finger back, and pull on the syringe again. Repeat this process till all water has been sucked through the filter.
 * When all the water has been sucked through, unscrew the top. Use the forceps to put the grid paper onto the agar in the Petri dish, grid side up. Put the top of the petri dish back on.
 * **Procedure IN THE CLASSROOM**
 * Put Petri dish in the incubator upside down for 24 hours
 * After 24 hours, count how many colonies of E. Coli you can see on the grip paper and report the results.
 * **Typical Reading**
 * A typical reading for E. Coli in a pond or river would be 5-10 colonies/ 100mL of water.
 * 2 colonies and less/ 100mL= safe to drink.
 * 1000 colonies and more/ 100mL= unsafe to swim.