Kolisoon - A new automated method for the analysis of Escherichia coli in wastewater effluent

The most commonly used methods for monitoring the microbial quality of wastewater effluent require 24-48 hours for completion (analysis). This means that they are ineffective in the event of a sudden breakdown. Based on the development of an analytical method for the quantification of Escherichia coli (E.coli) in water/ wastewater that provided results within an hour, the main purpose of the project was to develop and build an automated on-line early warning device suitable for E.coli detection in water/ wastewater and to demonstrate this new approach. The prototype system developed has been validated as on-line equipment for E. coli quantification capable of fully automated sampling, filtration, detection and data transmission. It enables the analysis of non disinfected / ozone-treated samples in one hour, and of chlorine-treated samples in just a few hours. The instrumentation allows the rapid measurement of the concentration of faecal indicator bacteria E.coli. The prototype also avoids the delay associated with other systems, whereby the microbiological quality of water bodies can only be assessed 24 hours after a sample is taken. This delay has long posed a threat to public health particularly where bathing waters are involved.