Existing Methods of Waterborne Pathogen Detection - Waterborne Pathogens: Detection Methods and Applications - page 51

Table 3.2 Application of different types of indicator organism for different types of
monitoring approach. Source: Adapted from Table 7.9 from Ref. 1
Type of monitoring

Veriication
and
surveillance

Validation of
process Microorganism(s) Operational

E. coli (or
thermotolerant
coliforms)

Not applicable Not applicable Fecal indicator

Total coliforms Not applicable Indicator for cleanliness

and integrity of
distribution systems

Not applicable

Heterotrophic
plate counts

Indicator for
effectiveness of
disinfection of
bacteria

Indicator for effectiveness
of disinfection processes
and cleanliness and
integrity of distribution
systems

Not applicable

Clostridium
perfringens 1

Indicator for
effectiveness of
disinfection and
physical removal
processes for
viruses and
protozoa

Not applicable Not applicable 2

Not applicable 2 Coliphages;

Bacteroides
fragilis phages;
enteric viruses

Indicator for
effectiveness of
disinfection and
physical removal
processes for
viruses

Not applicable

1 Use of Clostridium perfringens for validation will depend on the treatment process being assessed.
2 Could be used for verification where source waters are known to be contaminated with enteric viruses
and protozoa or where such contamination is suspected as a result of impacts of human fecal waste.
Source: Adapted from Table 7.9 from Ref. 1.

Figure 3.4 Correlation of indicator organisms with pathogen presence. Source: http://
rangelandwatersheds.ucdavis.edu/main/projects/pathogens.htm. (For color version of
this igure, the reader is referred to the online version of this topic.)