USGS Ohio Water Center Microbiology 

GUIDANCE FOR NAWQA MICROBIOLOGY

The NAWQA program began microbiological sampling in FY 2003.  What follows are the required methods and procedures to be used by NAWQA personnel.  Although these guidelines are described for NAWQA, they can be used by any USGS monitoring program or project.

For Cycle II sampling, the following are required components of NAWQA microbiological studies:

For ground water, samples will be collected from wells that are drinking-water supplies (domestic and public supply).  That includes those Study Units sampling new major aquifer studies (MAS), resampling of a MAS (called SUS in cycle I), and source water quality assessments (SWQA).  Samples from each well will be analyzed for

·        Total coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli) by use of the MI method (USEPA Method 1604) and

·        coliphage by use of USEPA Method 1601, enrichment presence/absence, and a 48-hour holding time before analysis.

For surface water, those Study Units monitoring SWQA sites will analyze samples for E. coli using modified mTEC (USEPA Method 1603).  

Equipment and supplies   (updated 2/04)       

Quality-control samples for NAWQA microbiology: (updated 2/04)

        Ground Water   

        Surface Water   

Forms:

GW sample and replicate report form

GW positive and negative control cultures report form (pdf) Total coliform and E.coli

SW positive control culture report form (pdf) E.coli

SW sample and replicate report form

GW Protocol (updated 2/04)

SW Protocol  (updated 2/04)