BRWA volunteer bacteria monitors work to gather a baseline of E. coli bacteria data on various determined points of the major tributaries of the Bad River Watershed. In collecting this data volunteers monitor and record the extent to which streams in the watershed conform to the basic bacteria parameters established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as safe for human exposure.
Volunteer bacteria monitors conduct monthly monitoring May through October, on the first Saturday of each month. Samples are also collected at high rain events to test for levels of bacteria in water samples drawn from sites. Water samples are collected, and then tested using the Coliscan EasyGel method. Samples are plated and incubated for 24 hours. After the incubation period the bacteria colonies are counted.
