Patent ID: 8417460

Claim:
A method of determining the approximate amount of coliform bacteria in water having an actual amount of coliform bacteria therein from light reflected therefrom, said method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a measurement of reflected light from said water, using a light measurement device, said measurement comprising a measurement of the respective amount of light in at least three wavelength ranges (i) from about 0.53 μm to about 0.60 μm ; (ii) from about 0.63 μm to about 0.69 μm; and (iii) from about 0.76 μm to about 0.90 μm; and (b) determining the approximate amount of said coliform in said water from said respective amount of light by applying an algorithm, using a microprocessor, relating said respective amount of light in said at least three wavelength ranges to the amount of coliform bacteria in said water, wherein said algorithm comprises a linear relationship between said approximate amount of said coliform in said water and the sum of (a) the ratio of the first of said light measurements to a second of said light measurements and (b) the ratio of the second of said light measurements to the third of said light measurements.