VALPARAISO | Every summer, unhealthy levels of E. coli bacteria are a potential threat to area beaches and lakes. Identifying the source of E. coli in water may soon be easier, thanks to imminent technology that is only a few years from becoming second nature, making the closing of area beaches and lakes more rare.

The Salt Creek Watershed Committee met in Valparaiso to discuss data obtained from two years of sampling in 14 sites along the tributary and its creeks, ditches, and outlets. Among the findings that rated seven of the sites as critical were high levels of E. coli, many times exceeding the state standard.

During the meeting last week, the question arose why it was not possible to test for the source of E. coli to determine whether the pollutant was animal, such as goose or deer excrement, or whether the pollutant was human, such as from a sewage treatment facility.

"The question is important because it is a human health issue and a big problem here in Porter County. If we can narrow in on the source and find out if the water is near a farmer's field and we know he is using manure, then we know the source. It's just logical. But when it gets complicated, testing can be very helpful," said Christine Livingston, water program director for the Save the Dunes Conservation Fund.

Such tests already exist.

So why aren't the tests used? Livingston says that the quality of the technology is superb, but the barrier is bureaucracy.

"It's very hotly contested," she said.

Jonathan Schoer, professor of chemistry at Valparaiso University agrees.

"The technology is there. It's the exact same technology as the DNA fingerprint, but the application is different. States are still going through validating the method, which is a series of tests. In Indiana, Purdue and Ball State have labs doing this validation testing, and it's only going to be a matter of time," Schoer said.

The test, called microbial source tracking, traces the microbe back to its origin and can determine whether the microbe came from a goose, a deer, or a human.

"Everyone wants to know where it comes from and what is the actual source. We will be able to determine the source and its specific species," Schoer said.

He says that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management is one of the agencies currently funding these validation tests and the ability to use the source tracking is about two to three years away.