All water suppliers in British Columbia are required to monitor water that reaches consumers for total coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli (E.coli) regularly. The monitoring is one part of a comprehensive approach to safe drinking water.

The presence of E. coli in a water sample indicates that bacteria capable of causing illness may be present in the water system.
The presence of total coliform bacteria may indicate a breakdown in the treatment process, or growth in the distribution system.

Acceptable Sample Results

The following results are considered acceptable for drinking water.

E. Coli
- No E. Coli detectable per 100 ml of each water sample.
Coliform
- If only one sample is taken in a 30-day period:
- No detectable Coliform per 100 ml of water
- If more than one sample is taken in a 30-day period:
- At least 90% of samples will have no detectable Coliform per 100 ml of water, and
- No sample has more than 10 total Coliform per 100ml of water

Interpreting Sample Reports

In VIHA, the results of drinking water sampling are reported using the following coding system.

GTR200 ~ Greater than 200 background colonies on membrane filter per 100 ml of sample.
LT0 ~ Less than
LT1 ~ Less than 1
LT5 ~ Less than 5
LT10 ~ Less than 10
LT50 ~ Less than 50
LT100 ~ Less than 100
GRTR ~ Greater than
ESTCT ~ Estimated Count
ESTHCD ~ High colony density on membrane prevented accurate coliform count.
OGO ~ Overgrown.
OGCOL ~ Overgrown with coliform present.
OGECOL ~ Overgrown with E. coli present.
OVEREN ~ Overgrown with Enterococci present.
OGC ~ Result indicates confluent bacterial growth preventing accurate coliform determination. Re sample for MPN testing by indicating Previous Sample Overgrown.
PRELIM ~ Preliminary report
FINRPT ~ Final Report
REJCT ~ Sample rejected
LKS2 ~ Sample leaked in transit. Sample not processed. Please repeat collection.
HPCND ~ Heterotrophic plate count was not performed. Sample was not received on day of collection.
DELAY3 ~ Sample not tested too long in transit.
NRLABE ~ No result available due to laboratory error. Please recollect sample.
SANOTE ~ Sample not tested.
SAREF ~ Sample received frozen. Result may not be valid.
SAREPF ~ Sample received partially frozen. Result may not be valid.
EMPTY ~ Sample bottle received empty.
QRWRT ~ Sample exceeded 30 hours from time of collection, results may not be valid. No written report will be issued and only a qualitative result will be reported by telephone when test is completed.
DISR ~ Disregard previous reported results
MAMEND ~ Please note: An Amended Report
NSR ~ No sample received
OIE ~ Ordered in Error

Capital Regional District (CRD) owned and operated water supply systems sample results can be found at the following link: https://www.crd.bc.ca/service/drinking-water/drinking-water-quality

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