For over a century, coliform monitoring has served as the primary means of assessing the
microbiological quality of water within a distribution network. In some ways, typical coliform
monitoring strategies today bear little resemblance to those of decades past. For example, the
use of commercially available defined substrate media is now widespread, and compliance with
the Total Coliform Rule is now based on the presence or absence of coliforms instead of
coliform densities. Yet in other ways, the number of samples collected, the frequency
of sampling, and sampling locations, coliform monitoring strategies have remained remarkably
static over the years.
A monitoring strategy consists of the monitoring objectives, the sampling design (i.e., numbers,
locations, and frequency), the analytical design (i.e., test methods and sampling SOPs), and
decision rules (i.e, basis for compliance). The refinement of the analytical methods for detecting
coliforms parallels the rapid advances in analytical methods in other areas of environmental
science. Likewise, the lag in development of rational sampling designs has been identified in
environmental monitoring programs outside of drinking water.
While the monitoring objectives of the TCR may seem obvious and unchanged over the years,
they are in fact quite nuanced. How useful is coliform monitoring in predicting waterborne
outbreaks? How effective is coliform monitoring in controlling cross connections? Is coliform
monitoring primarily a check on the integrity of the distribution system?
By evaluating the essential elements of a monitoring strategy in the context of the TCR, the white
paper considers options for optimizing coliform monitoring strategies. Includes abstract only.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 54 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 1 |
| Published : | 11/01/2005 |
