• ESB System Increment 1
• Rapid Analysis of Drinking Water for Microbial Contamination
• Aquatic Biomonitor
• Dechlorination Unit
• CeHR Medium
• Novel Biomonitoring Methods

Rapid Analysis of Drinking Water for Microbial Contamination

Coliform Detection

Safe water is paramount to the health and performance of the Warfighter. The military uses reverse osmosis to generate potable water in the field by drawing water from surface sources that may be contaminated. Routine testing of water for microbial contamination is based on the presence of the coliform group of bacteria. These microorganisms are typically not considered pathogenic but their presence is indicative of fecal contamination, which suggests that enteric pathogens may also be present and/or, that disinfection was inadequate. There are a number of traditional microbial tests for coliform bacteria and characteristically most of these tests require growth media, an incubator, filtering apparatus, and at least 24 hours to determine if the commodity is safe for human consumption.

Coliform Analyzer

A near-term technology for monitoring water for microbial contamination called the "Coliform Analyzer" is being considered to replace the coliform tests currently used by the Army and will reduce the turnaround time from 24 hours to 8 hours or less. This novel microbial assay system combines classical membrane filtration theory with innovative methods for the selective growth and quantification of both coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli in the presence of other water heterotrophic bacteria. The multi-sample system can simultaneously process 8-6 liter water samples. The "Coliform Analyzer" uses a selective growth medium that contains two specific fluorescent enzyme substrates, an internal thermally regulated fluorescent optical reader, and a simple graphical user interface that shows both the colony counts and illuminated light (i.e., red light/green light) results. Because time to detection is related to the initial organism concentration, heavily contaminated samples are detected quite rapidly, typically in 30-60 minutes; however, 8 hours are necessary to determine if a sample is negative for coliform bacteria.

The "Coliform Analyzer," developed by Pacific Technologies, Redmond, WA, was a product of a USACEHR Small Business Innovation Research effort and was transitioned to Advanced Development in October 2005. The "Coliform Analyzer" underwent a Milestone B review in October 2008, evaluation using the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Alternative Test Procedure in September 2009, and is expected to be completed in September 2010.