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 The US EPA has proposed the approval of Colilert, Colilert-18
and Quanti-Tray for the detection of E. coli in wastewater, and Enterolert and Quanti-Tray for the
detection of enterococci in wastewater. If implemented, the proposed guidelines would add these IDEXX rapid methods to the list of approved test procedures for determining compliance under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit process.
The "Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants Under the Clean Water Act; National Primary Drinking Water Regulations; and National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations; Analysis and Sampling Procedures; Proposed Rule" was published in the U.S. Federal Register-40 CFR Part 122 Vol. 69, No. 66 on April 6, 2004.
The proposed rule lays the groundwork for IDEXX Colilert/Quanti-Tray products to be approved for testing every type of regulated water. Colilert, Colilert-18, Colisure® and Quanti-Tray are US EPA-approved for drinking water under the Total Coliform Rule. Colilert, Colilert-18, Enterolert and Quanti-Tray are also US EPA-approved for ambient water testing. In addition, Colilert, Colilert-18 and Quanti-Tray are proposed for approval in the US EPA's pending Groundwater Rule, and the Long-Term Stage 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule.
In this most recent "Wastewater Rule" proposal, the EPA states its belief that the proposed approvals will "promote consistency between wastewater and drinking water compliance monitoring programs... allowing laboratories to use a single version of a method to satisfy multiple water compliance monitoring needs."
The proposed rule adds momentum to the US EPA's push for E. coli and enterococci monitoring of wastewater and ambient water. In the Ambient Water Rule, the EPA states "E. coli and enterococci show a direct correlation with swimming-associated gastrointestinal illness rates, while fecal coliforms do not."
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Regulation |
Analytes |
IDEXX Methods Included |
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| Ambient Water Rule |
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E. coli and enterococci |
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Colilert, Colilert-18, Enterolert and Quanti-Tray
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| Groundwater Rule (proposed) |
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E. coli and enterococci |
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Colilert, Colilert-18, Enterolert and Quanti-Tray
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| LT2 Rule (proposed) |
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E. coli and Cryptosporidium |
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Colilert, Colilert-18, Quanti-Tray and Filta-Max®
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| Total Coliform Rule |
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Total coliforms and E. coli |
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Colilert, Colilert-18, Colisure and Quanti-Tray
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| Surface Water Treatment Rule |
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Total coliforms and HPC |
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Colilert and Simplate® for HPC
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| Wastewater Rule (proposed) |
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E. coli and enterococci |
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Colilert, Colilert-18, Enterolert and Quanti-Tray
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