ZDHC( Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals), a global multi-stakeholder project of over 160 contributors from the apparel and footwear industries, has reported that replacing the faecal coliform test with an absence/presence test for E.coli increases the accuracy of wastewater monitoring in tropical areas and decreases the need for validation testing.

Natural species may be confused for faecal coliforms, according to the group, raising the risk of a false-positive outcome in wastewater tests. The update is made by ZDHC based on newly discovered facts, expert advice, and the Wastewater Council's decision.

According to a press release from the group, the amendment will be mirrored in the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines V2.0 which will extend to both textile and MMCF wastewater.