Dr. Javier Arce conducted research taking water samples from different houses to analyze contamination levels. Samples were stored in sterile bottles on ice to prevent bacterial growth. Water was tested using techniques like heterotrophic plate count and tube fermentation to identify bacteria like E. coli. Samples were incubated in a Quanti-Tray with Idexx Colilert to detect fluorescence indicating coliforms. Statistical analysis using Excel calculated variance, average, and standard deviation to quantify results from the water testing data.