Tuesday, December 4, 2007 : 2:20 p.m.

New Developments in Standard Methods for Iron and Sulfur Bacteria

Stuart A. Smith, M.S., CGWP, Smith-Comeskey GW Science LLC

Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, published jointly by the American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation, is a widely used collection of standards for water analysis, including microbiological testing. The methods described often become official methods. Section 9240, Iron and Sulfur Bacteria, describes standard methods for analysis of various “iron bacteria” and “sulfur bacteria” which are diverse, unrelated categories of microorganisms (mostly bacteria) that oxidize or reduce iron or sulfur compounds.

Section 9240 was little changed from the 1940s through the mid 1990s, when new sampling protocols and improved discussion of acidophiles were added. Significantly, de facto standard methods used in the ground water industry, especially the BART Method for detection of iron-related and sulfate-reducing bacteria, were not included in Section 9240 through the 21st published edition, although such inclusion was called for much earlier.

The post-21st-edition version of Section 9240 is extensively revised, with bacterial nomenclature and other terminology updated to match modern practice and various types of iron- and sulfur-manipulating groups and their effects better differentiated and described.  Collection sampling descriptions have been broadened, culturing methods updated, and both packaged culturing methods (e.g., BART) and biochemical methods included for the first time.  The method, submitted for ballot at the time this abstract was drafted, should now reflect modern actual standard practice and be more useful to the water community.

Stuart A. Smith, M.S., CGWP, Smith-Comeskey GW Science LLC Stuart Smith has been active in the ground water industry for over 27 years, since 1996 with Ground Water Science (www.groundwaterscience.com), where he specializes in well troubleshooting, maintenance, and rehabilitation. He holds CGWP designation, and MS and BA degrees from The Ohio State University (more than a men’s football team) and Wittenberg University (ditto), respectively. Mr. Smith is the author or coauthor of numerous studies and publications on well and drain biofouling, well maintenance and rehabilitation and well construction. He is active in national and state-level water supply and ground water organizations, including NGWA’s Microbial Interest Group.


2007 NGWA Ground Water Expo and Annual Meeting