The EPA revised the Total Coliform Rule (TCR) in 2013, but these changes need to be implemented soon. By April 1, 2016, all compliant public water systems will have to implement the revised TCR requirements. At WETLAB, we take a great interest in the new regulatory measures that affect our clients, and we decided to take a closer look at what the Revised Total Coliform Rule entails.
According to the EPA, the RTCR is intended to “protect public health by ensuring the integrity of the drinking water distribution system and monitoring for the presence of microbial contamination.” Which essentially means that the RTCR confirms what the TCR has already established since 1989, and then expands upon the initial rule. The RTCR requires that all public water systems (PWS) show that they meet the legal limit for E. coli through expanded required monitoring. The rule also goes on to specify what the actual frequency and timing of the required microbial testing is; which is based on the populations served by the PWS, the type of PWS, and what type of source water the PWS uses.
To find the exact requirements of the new rule, we highly suggest visiting the EPA’s page on the RTCR here. These changes do not have to be implemented until April 1, 2016, but it is crucial to have an accurate understanding of the new rule.
At WETLAB, we strive to provide our clients with the most accurate and up-to-date information available. If you have any questions, about this rule or any other, please call us at (775) 355-0202.
Effluent water could soon become part of your normal drinking water in Northern Nevada. According to KTVN, reclaimed water is around 30% cheaper than potable water, but the problem is that waste water is not drinkable yet. Yet is the key word here, because regulations that define how much the water will need to be treated are working their way through the Nevada state legislature, and lawmakers are hoping to see them adopted by the 2017 session.
As everyone knows, Northern Nevada is suffering a severe drought. Having another way to reuse water will have a great, positive environmental impact on our already low waterways. Effluent water is already being used in some ways, mostly to irrigate parks and golf courses, but more could be put back into eventual use by the proposed measure. The process involves injecting semi-treated water directly into the ground, so that it will later make its way back into our pipes. This will ease the strain that is currently put on the Truckee River, which will in turn help with our ecosystem.
Effluent water is defined as waste-water, whether treated or not, that flows out from an industrial treatment plant or sewer. Secondary effluent is that same water that has been treated, but not to the point of purity. Obviously, the main difference between potable and effluent water is the cleanliness of the water, and its fitness for human consumption.
WETLAB preforms several tests on effluent water for many different clients, including public and private companies. Some of these tests are Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), which tests how much oxygen demand the effluent water has, and Total Suspended Solids (TSS), which tests the amount of suspended solids within an aqueous sample. Several other tests are often performed in tandem on effluent water samples, including Total Nitrogen, Nitrate + Nitrite, Ammonia, Total Phosphorous, and Fecal Coliform. These tests all provide a detailed profile of what exactly is contained in an effluent sample, and allow proprietors to know how to best treat their water.
Singapore and Texas have already implemented effluent-to-drinking-water purification systems, with positive results. To read more about this program in Nevada, and to see an interesting news report on it, click here.
Viva Las Vegas! As for Vegas, the lease is completed and we’re currently setting up and going through the certification process for the test we will perform in Vegas. We will perform locally Total Coliform, Quant Tray, Fecal Coliform, pH and BOD5.
The address is 3230 Polaris Ave. Unit 4, Las Vegas, NV 89102.
For additional information please contact Nick Ross at (775) 355-0202.
Natural resources are important for the livelihood and survival of populations. One of the most important resources is water, and to be even more specific clean water. The distribution of water serves many purposes, from aquatic ecosystems, domestic use to commercial and industrial use. Clean and safe drinking water can be monitored through microbiological testing. At WETLAB – Western Environmental Testing Laboratory we are proud to offer four certified microbiology analyses and two non-compliance tests. We are certified in Nevada and California to analyze Presence/Absence (P/A), Quanti-tray, Fecal Coliform, and Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC). The two non-compliance tests we offer are tests to determine Iron Related Bacteria and Sulfate Reducing Bacteria. WETLAB is continuously evolving each department and strives to offer quality data for clients and we encourage method development by researching new tests in order to meet our client needs.
This post is provided to help clients better understand the microbiology analyses at WETLAB. Each test will be described in detail with regards to what we are testing for, what type of sample matrices can be analyzed for certain tests, brief description of the analyses and the hold times for each test (please note there are two different hold times for Quanti-tray). The definition that we follow at WETLAB for sample hold time is the time from sample collection to when analysis MUST begin.
For more information on microbiology analysis, please refer to Standard Methods, Part 9000, Methods 9222 and 9223.
Bacteria Sample Bottle, Volume and Sample Integrity
SM 9223 B
Presence/Absence (P/A)
Laboratory Hold time (HT)
Sample Matrix
Biology Background
Laboratory Analysis
SM 9223 B
Quanti-tray (MPN)
Laboratory Hold time (HT)
Sample Matrix
Biology Background
Laboratory Analysis
SM 9222 D
Fecal Coliform
Laboratory Hold time (HT)
Sample Matrix
Biology Background
Laboratory Analysis
SM 9215 B / SimPlate
HETEROTROPHIC PLATE COUNT (HPC)
Laboratory Hold time (HT)
Sample Matrix
Biology Background
Laboratory Analysis
SM 9240 B
Iron Related Bacteria (IRB)
SM 9240 C
Sulfate Reducing Bacteria (SRB)
Laboratory Hold time (HT)
Sample Matrix
Biology Background
Laboratory Analysis