EPA scientists have developed a variety of methods to detect, characterize and study bacteria, protozoans, viruses and coliphage. These methods are used by EPA and state and regional water quality managers to protect human health by keeping drinking water safe.

Bacteria

• Method 1605: Aeromonas in Finished Water by Membrane Filtration Using Ampicillin-Dextrin Agar with Vancomycin (ADA-V) 
• Method 1604: Total Coliforms and Escherichia coli in Water by Membrane Filtration Using a Simultaneous Detection Technique (MI Medium) 
• Method 1603: Escherichia coli (E.coli) in Water by Membrane Filtration Using Modified membrane-ThermotolerantEscherichia coli Agar (Modified mTEC)
• Method 1600: Enterococci in Water by Membrane Filtration Using membrane-Enterococcus Indoxyl-ß-D-Glucoside Agar (mEI)
• Method 1106.1: Enterococci in Water by Membrane Filtration Using membrane-Enterococcus-Esculin Iron Agar (mE-EIA) -
• Method 1103.1: Escherichia coli (E. coli) in Water by Membrane Filtration Using membrane-ThermotolerantEscherichia coli Agar (mTEC)
• Improved Enumeration Methods for the Recreational Water Quality Indicators: Enterococci and Escherichia coli  

Protozoans

• Method 1622: Cryptosporidium in Water by Filtration/IMS/FA
• Method 1623.1: Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Water by Filtration/IMS/FA
• Criteria for Evaluation of Proposed Protozoan Detection Methods
• Method 1622/1623 Cryptosporidium Report Form
• Method 1622/1623 Spiking Suspension Enumeration Form: Cryptosporidium/Giardia
• Method 1623 Giardia Report Form
• Hemacytometer Data Sheet for Cryptosporidium/Giardia

Viruses and Coliphage

• USEPA Manual of Methods for Virology 
• Method 1601: Male-specific (F+) and Somatic Coliphage in Water by Two-step Enrichment Procedure 
• Method 1602: Male-specific (F+) and Somatic Coliphage in Water by Single Agar Layer (SAL) Procedure

Recreational Water Publications

• The EMPACT Beaches Project: Results From a Study on Microbiological Monitoring in Recreational Waters ​
• Data Quality Objectives and Statistical Design Support for Development of a Monitoring Protocol for Recreational Waters 
• Health-Based Monitoring of Recreational Waters: The Feasibility of a New Approach (The 'Annapolis Protocol') — 1999 Exit
• Health Effects Criteria for Marine Recreational Waters

• Health Effects Criteria for Fresh Recreational Waters 

ICR-Related Materials:

Note: Sample collection for the Information Collection Rule ended in December, 1998. The following ICR publications are maintained online as informational resources.

• ICR Microbial Manual 
• Information Collection Requirements Rule — Protozoan Method for Detecting Giardia Cysts and Cryptosporidium Oocysts in Water by a Fluorescent Antibody Procedure 
• Information Collection Requirements Rule — Protozoa and Enteric Virus Sample Collection Procedures 

Other Publications:

• Quality Assurance/Quality Control Guidance for Laboratories Performing PCR Analyses on Environmental Samples 
• Preventing Waterborne Disease: A Focus on EPA's Research