How to Test for E Coli in Drinking Water

E-coli lives peacefully in the intestines. However, if ingested, e-coli can cause terrible illness or death. If you suspect your septic system is leaking into your water supply, or if you're experiencing symptoms of e-coli infection, have your water tested for e-coli.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine the source of your water. If it's from a public water supply, and not a well, then the odds of it being infected with e-coli are very slim. Public water sources are held to strict testing and treatment guidelines, with hourly water quality assessments provided for some areas. The EPA requires that your water supplier present you with an annual report of water quality. This is generally mailed to you. You can call your utility company to request a copy.

• 2

  Contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at [phone] or your state health department for a list of agencies who are licensed to test your well for e-coli. Each state has a licensing and certification process for maintaining that laboratory testing facilities are operating correctly.

• 3

  Sterilize jelly jars for the sample by baking them in the oven a 250 degrees F. for 1 hour. Place in a cold oven and then heat at 250 degrees F. for one hour. Once cool, add a water sample and seal. Deliver the sample(s) to the lab within 24 hours.

• 4

  Bring 2 to 3 water samples into a testing facility, each clearly labeled "morning," "noon," and "evening" respectively. As the day progresses, rising and falling water levels in your well may mean contaminants only appear sporadically. For example, if your morning water level is highest and being impacted by a septic tank leak, then the morning sample will show e-coli while the evening sample may not.