In wastewater treatment, at what temperature is fecal coliform typically incubated?

Fecal coliform is typically incubated at a temperature of 44.5° Centigrade during wastewater treatment analysis. This specific temperature is chosen because it is optimal for the growth of fecal coliform bacteria, which are indicators of fecal contamination and overall water quality. The elevated temperature helps to preferentially promote the growth of these organisms while inhibiting other non-fecal bacteria, thus ensuring that the test results accurately reflect the presence of fecal matter in the sample.

The other temperature options are not suitable for fecal coliform testing. Incubation at lower temperatures, such as those in the 30s, would not provide the optimal conditions for fecal coliform, and higher temperatures can lead to the growth of other bacteria that do not indicate fecal contamination, potentially skewing the results.