One of the most significant weaknesses in modern day water quality management is the detection of microbiological indicators. Microbial tests are normally conducted off-site, often resulting in long turn-around time, risk of contamination, cross contamination and adulteration. Here Stephen Brown and Moe Hussain present a thought provoking case study where limitations in current analytical technologies for water monitoring had fatal results and discuss new approaches to microbiological monitoring that might prevent similar disasters occurring in the future.