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Certified Water Samplers
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The Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Protections is responsible for the regulation of water quality in the islands. They also license laboratories and samplers. Samplers working for Ocean Systems Laboratory have been trained and licensed by this division of the V.I. Government and must take a course and an examination every two years to maintain their license. Our certified drinking water samplers in St. Croix are Tina Baker, Mary Lou Coulston, Irma Gomez, Levelle Henry, James Meyers and in St. Thomas are Nicole Browne, Lester Browne, Jennifer Carter, Ieshia George, Latoya James, Kaitlin Kaiser and Scott Malcolm, Ocean Systems also works cooperatively with Marcella Jennings of Auset Water Testing Laboratory to supply certified samplers. |
VI Beach Samplers
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Ocean Systems Laboratory has participated in a beach sampler's training course and now has ceritfied beach samplers for the beach monitoring program. The laboratory also works with Marcella Jennings of Auset Water Testing Laboratory to collect the weekly beach water samples. |
What are Coliforms?
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The name "coliform" is given to a whole group of bacteria, which can occur in water and indicate potential health problems. There are TOTAL COLIFORMS and FECAL COLIFORMS. They both belong to a large group of bacteria called ENTERICS. Most of the bacteria are total coliforms with a few belonging to the group know as fecal coliform. Fecal coliform is considered much more serious from the standpoint of health. In testing water for health safety, fecal coliforms are much more dangerous. Fecal coliform thrives in the human intestine and passes out in high numbers in the fecal material. Most dominant of the fecal coliform is e.coli. E. coli is not always harmful, but at times can cause infections. It is important to remember that the presence of fecal coliform is an indicator of potential pollution. |
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