NGWA Event and Education Recordings Archive

Bacterial presence in groundwater is widespread and has the potential to be extremely problematic within our water systems. For centuries good quality water was defined by smell, appearance, taste, and later, chemical analysis. However, the study and understanding of microorganisms within our water supplies has only relatively recently become part of the discussion. Assessment and monitoring of the general microbial quality can play a vital role in both diagnosing problems, as well as determining the most effective treatments. With the advent of new methods for monitoring microorganisms, choosing the most effective tests for monitoring bacteria in a system is now more perplexing than ever. Understanding what information is important and the advantages and disadvantages of test methods are vital in selecting the proper tests to meet your needs. Using combination of available methods offers a more comprehensive evaluation of water systems and an innovative approach to groundwater monitoring.