GALWAY RESEARCH RAISES QUESTIONS OVER USE OF E-COLI AS WATER QUALITY INDICATOR

Date Published: 02-Mar-2010

A Galway based research team is concerned about the use of e-coli as a sole indicator of water pollution.

Traditional research shows it can survive outside its host for a short time which makes it ideal for testing samples for recent contamination.

New research undertaken by Teagasc Johnstown Castle Environment Research Centre and NUI Galway has found this may not be the case.

Results suggest e-coli can adapt to new environments and survive considerably longer than originally thought.