E. coli SAMPLING PROCEDURE

• Label the sealed sterile sample container with the site number,
  date, time and your name

• Wear elbow gloves

• Wade into the river and try to collect from the main current. Use a walking stick to evaluate the river bottom. Try to disturb as little bottom sediment as possible. In any case, be careful not to collect water that has sediment from bottom disturbance. Stand facing upstream
  

• Collect the water sample on your upstream side, in front of you. You may also tape your container to an extension pole to sample from deeper water
  
  Hold the container near its base and turn it upside down. Plunge it into the water. Remove the cap from the container under water. Collect a water sample mid-way between the surface and the bottom or 60/40. Avoid touching the inside of the container or the cap
  

• If you are using an extension pole, remove the cap, turn the container upside down, and plunge it into the water, facing upstream
  

• Turn the container under water into the current and away from you. In slow-moving stream reaches, push the container away from you in an upstream direction
  

• Recap the container under water carefully, remembering not to touch the inside. Make sure to fill the container nearly to the top so that at least 100 ml water volume is sampled
  

• Write the container number and/or site number on the appropriate field data sheet
  

• Place the container in the cooler for transport to the lab