FECAL COLIFORM COMPARISON BETWEEN WHAT IS UNSAFE IN
                                        NEW ORLEANS FLOOD WATER
                                                             AND
  WHAT EPA SAYS IS SAFE ON HOME LAWNS, GARDENS AND FOOD CROP LAND
Flood Water Test Results: Biological Testing

Introduction
Data
Map of sampling locations

Introduction

Floodwater samples across the New Orleans area were collected and tested for total coliforms
and E . Coli bacteria. Results of these tests indicated bacteria levels in the floodwaters greatly
exceeded EPA's recommended levels of contact.

Using EPA approved methodology specifically designed to test for coliform and E . Coli (Colilert-
18 test kits), bacterial concentration levels of over (1,260/liter) were detected in all samples
collected. These levels of E. Coli were detected in all but two samples collected. EPA
recommends “safe” levels for coliforms to be below 200 bacterial colonies per sample (2,000
/liter) and for E. Coli below 126 colonies per sample (1,260/liter) for recreational contact from
swimming, fishing, or wading.

Since these samples were found contaminated far beyond EPA's recommend level of human
contact, it was determined that no useful information relative to the degree of hazard to public
health could be gained from further testing.

The data below is the first set of what will be an extensive amount of flood water sampling
results. The samples were analyzed for both biological pathogens and chemicals. The
biological data is presented here. Chemical data will be presented here as it becomes available
(estimate: September 10th).

Data
For Comparison purposes, the liter/kilogram conversion of 1,000 grams is used
EPA would like us to believe that 1,000 grams of dry weight (kilogram) is some how
different from 1,000 grams of wet weight (liter) when comparing fecal coliform.
Notice on samples 3 & 4 that EPA used the fecal coliform test level for E coli.


http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/bio2005_09_030405.html#pagecontents
Sample #
6 samples
total coliform
Day 1
 Sample
Date
 Bacteria
 Colonies/liter
1,000 grams
New Orleans
/water-contact
 UNSAFE
 Colonies/Liter
1,000 grams
Class A Sludge
HOME LAWNS
 Colonies/liter
1,000 grams
Class B Sludge
CROP LAND
(6)     1
1
 9/3/2005
9/3/2005
 Total Coliform
E. Coli
 >24,190.6
390.7
 >1,000,000
 2,000,000,000
2
 9/3/2005
 E. Coli
 680.0
    
3
 9/3/2005
 E. Coli
 >24,190.6
    
4
 9/3/2005
 E. Coli
 >24,190.6
    
5
 9/3/2005
 E. Coli
 14,130.6
    
6
 9/3/2005
 E. Coli
 4,610.1
    
7
 9/4/2005
 E. Coli
 5,080.8
    
8
 9/4/2005
 E. Coli
 19,140.4
    
9
 9/4/2005
 E. Coli
 >96,780.8
    
10
 9/4/2005
 E. Coli
 12,520
    
11
 9/5/2005
 E. Coli
 11,450.5
    
12
 9/5/2005
 E. Coli
 127,180