Analysis of Water for Total Coliform Bacteria

Analysis of Water for Total Coliform Bacteria

Lab #3

Table 1: Processed Data

Source 1 mL 5 mL 15 mL

Rinsewater blank 0 0 0

Creek Water 1 11 26

Lake Brittain 0 3 5

Men's Toilet 0 0 0

Creek Water 2 13 12

Turtle Water 7 40 95

Women's Toilet 0 0 0

Creek Water 2 12 39

The table shows the entire class data for lab #3. Three out of eight samples yielded zero signs of coliforms. These three samples were from the men’s toilet, the women’s toilet, and the rinsewater blank. The water from these three samples are classified as �drinking water’. The most amounts of coliforms present were from the Turtles water and the least amount of coliforms present was from Lake Brittain.

Data and Results

LOCATION_____Westminster College______SAMPLING DATE: ____Feb. 20, 2008_

1a. Sample #__Toilet Water (Men’s) _____________ Aliquot size (ml) ____1 ml__

Incubation: Dates: in__2-20___out__2-21___Time: in __4 pm____ out __4 pm____ Total hrs__24 hrs.___

Number coliform colonies ___0____ Total coliforms/100ml ____0_______

1b. Sample # ___ Toilet Water (Men’s) ____ Aliquot size (ml) ____5 ml__

Incubation: Dates: in__2-20___out__2-21___Time: in __4 pm____ out __4 pm____ Total hrs__24 hrs.___

Number coliform colonies ___0____ Total coliforms/100ml ____0_______

1c. Sample # ___ Toilet Water (Men’s) ____ Aliquot size (ml)____15 ml___

Incubation: Dates: in__2-20___out__2-21___Time: in __4 pm____ out __4 pm____ Total hrs__24 hrs.___

Number coliform colonies ___0____ Total coliforms/100ml ____0_______

2a. Sample #__Lake Brittain _____________ Aliquot size (ml) ____1 ml_____

Incubation: Dates: in__2-20___out__2-21___Time: in __4 pm____ out __4 pm____ Total hrs__24 hrs.___

Number coliform colonies ___0____ Total coliforms/100ml _____0______

2b. Sample # ___ Lake Brittain ____ Aliquot size (ml)____5 ml___

Incubation: Dates: in__2-20___out__2-21___Time: in __4 pm____ out __4 pm____ Total hrs__24 hrs.___

Number coliform colonies __3_____ Total coliforms/100ml _____60______

2c. Sample # __ Lake Brittain _____ Aliquot size (ml)____15 ml_____

Incubation: Dates: in__2-20___out__2-21___Time: in __4 pm____ out __4 pm____ Total hrs__24 hrs.___

Number coliform colonies ___5____ Total coliforms/100ml _____33______

Discussion:

Based on the data collected in the lab, I can reject my null hypothesis. My null hypothesis was, “There will be no coliforms in either of the water samples.” This was found to be false during the experiment, because there were signs of coliforms in two out of the three water samples from Lake Brittain. The results showed that my first alternative hypothesis