Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

The OWML provides analytical data for projects within the USGS.  Samples that we receive and analyze are collected to determine the presence of microbiological organisms of public-health significance in ground waters and surface waters for a variety of study objectives.  Our goals at the OWML are to

(1)   Provide quality microbiological analytical services to USGS projects for the analysis of environmental samples for bacterial indicators, coliphage, enteric viruses, and protozoans.

(2)   Work with academic institutions, other government agencies, and public utilities to develop and (or) test methods for enumeration or identification of microorganisms of public health significance in the environment.

(3)   Provide assistance to other USGS employees for project planning and training on three major groups of microorganisms of public-health significance in the United States: bacteria, protozoa, and viruses.

(4)   Continually develop projects that enhance our understanding of the processes that affect microbiological pathogens and indicators in the environment.

Standard Bacterial Indicators

• Total coliforms and Escherichia coli, using MI method
• Total coliforms and Escherichia coli, using mENDO and NA-MUG method
• Total coliforms and Escherichia coli, using Colilert method  
• Fecal coliforms, using mFC method
• Escherichia coli, using mTEC method
• Enterococci, using mEI  method
• Escherichia coli, using modified mTEC method

Spore Formers

• Clostridium perfringens, using the mCP agar method

Coliphage

• Male-specific (F+) and somatic coliphage in water by a two-step enrichment procedure  (Method 1601)
• Male-specific (F+) and somatic coliphage in water by a single-agar layer procedure  (Method 1602)

Enteric viruses

• Enteric viruses, using reverse transcriptase-polymearse chain reaction

Protozoan Pathogens

• Cryptosporidium and Giardia, using USEPA Method 1623

• Field Sampling   also in (*pdf format 312 kb)

• Disclaimer
  This manual is an internal document of the Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory (OWML) that is being made available on the World Wide Web as a convenience to interested parties. Specifications and recommendations herein apply strictly to OWML personnel and operations. Use of brand, trade, or firm names in this manual is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey.

• Quality assurance and quality control manual for the Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory (* pdf format)
  (Revised June 2005)

Services

• Price List (Internal Use Only)
• Instructions for sample submission

Contacts  

Rebecca Bushon, Hydrologist, Laboratory Coordinator
Phone (614) 430-7783 Email rnbushon@usgs.gov

Donna Francy, Hydrologist, Laboratory Manager
Phone (614) 430-7769 Email dsfrancy@usgs.gov

Erin Bertke, Biologist
Phone (614) 430-7712 Email eebertke@usgs.gov

Amie Brady, Hydrologist
Phone (614) 430-7760 Email amgbrady@usgs.gov

Chris Kephart, Student Trainee (Hdrol)
Phone (614) 430-7784 Email ckephart@usgs.gov

Christina Likirdopulos, Hydrologist
Phone (614) 430-7780 Email clikirdopulos@usgs.gov

Don Stoeckel, Hydrologist
Phone (614) 430-7729 Email stoeckel@usgs.gov