Description
Is there bacteria in your water?
E. coli and coliform bacteria are the most important signs that water has been contaminated by sewage, septic tanks or animal waste. That contamination can cause stomach illness, diarrhoea and worse, especially in children, older people and anyone with a weakened immune system.
You can’t see, smell or taste bacteria. This simple home test tells you whether they’re there.
Who it’s for
- Borehole and well owners: especially with a septic tank, pit latrine or livestock nearby
- Rainwater tank users: stored water can pick up bacteria from roofs, gutters and animals
- Households after a problem: flooding, burst pipes, water outages or a boil-water notice
- Anyone who has treated their water: confirming that chlorination, UV or a filter is working
- Travellers, campers and holiday homes: checking an unfamiliar water source
- Owners of TCSC chemical kits: adding or repeating a bacteria check
What’s in the box
- 1 × sterile test bottle containing growth-medium powder
- Instructions and a colour guide
How to use
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- If testing a tap, run it for 3–5 minutes first.
- Open the bottle without touching the inside of the cap or bottle.
- Fill with cold water to the line. Close the cap tightly and shake for about 20 seconds until the powder dissolves.
- Keep the bottle out of direct sunlight at room temperature (20–32 °C).
- Read your result after 48 hours.
Reading your result
- Yellow (no colour change): no E. coli or coliforms detected
- Dark yellow or yellow-green: bacteria detected
- Green: bacteria detected
A positive result can sometimes appear within 24 hours. Always do your final reading at 48 hours.
Bacteria detected? What to do next
- Don’t drink the water untreated. Until the problem is fixed, boil drinking water (a full rolling boil for at least 1 minute) or use bottled water.
- Find the source. Common causes are septic tanks, damaged borehole seals, dirty tanks or gutters, and broken pipes.
- Disinfect, for example by shock-chlorinating a borehole or cleaning a tank. Then retest with a second E. coli test.
- Confirm with a lab. Our Water Safety Check (R399) confirms the result and checks pH, salts and other basic water health indicators.
- Need help? Book a 30-minute consultation with a TCSC water scientist (from R649.50).
Safe disposal
A positive test bottle contains live bacteria, so keep it closed. To dispose of it, carefully add a capful of household bleach, close the bottle tightly, wait 30 minutes, then discard it with household waste. Wash your hands afterwards.
Good to know
- This is a present/absent screening test. It shows whether bacteria are present, not how many.
- It doesn’t detect viruses, parasites (such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium) or chemical contaminants. For chemicals, use the 25-in-1 or 21-in-1 kit, or a lab test.
- One test is a snapshot of a single sample. Bacteria levels can change after rain or flooding, so retest regularly, especially for boreholes and tanks.
- Storage: keep it in a cool, dry place and use it before the expiry date.
Save with a TCSC kit
- 25-in-1 Water Test Kit (R500): includes 1 E. coli test plus 24 chemical and nutrient tests
- 21-in-1 Kit + 2 E. coli Tests (R1,750): 100 chemical tests per panel, plus 2 bacteria tests
Why TCSC
The Chemistry Solutions Company is a Cape Town water science company that has supported more than 100 environmental projects. TCSC was named second runner-up in the UNIDO Global Cleantech Innovation Programme South Africa (2024). Every test also supports the Water Warrior Project, which provides free community water testing.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is it?
It’s a reliable screening test for whether bacteria are present. For a confirmed laboratory result, choose the Water Safety Check.
Can I test bottled or filtered water?
Yes. Fill the test bottle directly from the bottle or filter outlet.
How many tests do I need?
At least two if you find a problem: one to check, and one to retest after treatment. For boreholes and tanks, test every 3–6 months.
Do you offer bulk pricing?
Yes, for schools, NGOs, clinics and Water Testing Warriors. Contact us for a quote.
See our product disclaimer. Results are indicative screening values.
