Students from Redondo Union HS and South HS meet at SEA Lab at 10:30am to break into work groups.
Chris, the coordinator for South HS, prepares the water sample coolers with...
...water sample bags and ice packs.
Michelle labels each water sample bag by test site name before the Redondo Union HS work groups depart.
Tyler and Steven are assigned the Redondo Beach Pier test site.
They take out the data sheet to record...
...the current weather conditions and beach use at the time the water sample is collected.
Tyler collects the water sample...
...and securely ties it to prevent contamination.
Each sample will be analyzed for enterococci, an intestinal bacteria, that can reveal pollution level of the ocean water.
Water samples are then placed in a cooler...
...to be transported back to the SEA Lab...
...and then dropped off into a second collection cooler. The water samplers' job is done for the morning.
Once all the samples arrive, they are gathered and taken to the lab...
...where the water samples and test equipment are prepared.
First, all equipment is labeled by test site.
Into each bottle is poured a mixture of distilled water...
...food for the enterococci bacteria...
...a sample of the collected ocean water...
...and a final dose of distilled water to top off the solution.
The solution is mixed and poured into a sampling tray.
Each sampling tray has a series of large and small "cells" or pockets to hold the water sample.
Filled sampling trays then are sealed by...
...passing them trough a machine that heats the trays' top edge...
...and spreads the water sample evenly into all the large and small cells...
...and ensures a tamper proof water quality sample.
Trays are then placed in a 40F oven where the bacteria will feed on the food and excrete waste gases which will glow when held under a florescent light. A mathematical calculation and the number of glowing cells will determine the quantity of bacteria in the sample.
