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This standard gives a method to enumerate Escherichia coli by filtration of a water sample through a membrane filter, by resuscitating the filtered germs on a solid, non-selective medium, followed by differentiation of the colonies that have formed by examining for the presence of indol. This standard applies to the bacteriological examination of drinking water, mineral and spring water, swimming water in circulation pools, surface water, waste water and sea water, unless the nature and/or the content of particulate matter interferes with the determination.