WATER MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY EVALUATION FORM
State of Illinois
Illinois Department of Public Health
METHODOLOGY
1. General
a. Methodology as specified in the Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR), the Surface Water Treatment Rule
(SWTR), the Groundwater Rule (GWR), or the Enhanced Long Term 2 Surface Water Treatment Rule
(LT2) used, as applicable.
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b. Water sample shaken vigorously at least 25 times in a complete up and down movement (465.360c).
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c. All total coliform-positive cultures tested for the presence of E. coli (465.360o) (RTCR).
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d. All samples analyzed under the RTCR and the GWR are 100 mL.
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QC e. PT sample satisfactorily analyzed annually for each certified method (465.390c1) (465.200).
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2. Membrane Filter Procedures
RTCR (Detect)
SWTR (Count)
SM 20th Ed 9222B
SM 20th Ed 9222A,B
Total Coliform
SM 21st Ed 9222B
Total Coliform
SM 21st Ed 9222A,B
SM online 9222A,B-97
SM online 9222B-97
m-ColiBlue
SM 22nd Ed. 9222D
Total Coliform
Fecal Coliform
Manufacturer’s Instructions
SM online Ed. 9222 D-97
and E. coli
EPA 1604 (MI Medium)
Total Coliform and E. coli
EPA 1604 (MI Medium)
GWR (Detect)
LT2 (Count)
EPA 1604 (MI Medium)
EPA 1604 (MI Agar)
E. coli
m-ColiBlue 24
E. coli
m-ColiBlue 24
Manufacturer’s Instructions
Manufacturer’s Instructions
New Construction (Detect)
SM 20th Ed 9222B
Any growth
SM 21st Ed 9222B
SM online 9222B-97
a. Absorbent pads saturated with broth (2 ml), excess discarded; or 4ml of agar medium used (465.360j4).
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QC b. Sterility check conducted at start and end of each filtration series; if control indicates contamination, all
data rejected and another sample obtained (465.360j2)
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c. Funnel rinsed at least twice with 20ml-30 ml portions of sterile buffered rinse water (465.360j3).
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d. MF removed with sterile forceps; grasped outside effective filtration area.
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e. MF rolled onto medium so air bubbles are not trapped.
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f.
M-Endo incubated at 35°C ± 0.5°C for 22 to 24 hours, m-ColiBlue 35°C ± 0.5°C for 24 hours,
MI 35°C ± 0.5°C for 24 ± 2 hours; M-FC 44.5°C ± 0.2°C for ± 2 hours.
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g. Dishes with loose-fitting lids incubated in high humidity chambers.
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h. All samples either confluent growth or too numerous to count (TNTC) invalidated, unless total
coliform-positive and a new sample obtained (RTCR) (465.360l).
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i.
All samples under the SWTR that are TNTC or confluent growth (coliform count cannot be determined)
invalidated (465.360o).
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j.
M-Endo or LES-Endo verification performed.
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