For over a century, coliform monitoring has served as the primary means of assessing the microbiological quality of water within a distribution network. In some ways, typical coliform monitoring strategies today bear little resemblance to those of decades past. For example, the use of commercially available defined substrate media is now widespread, and compliance with the Total Coliform Rule is now based on the presence or absence of coliforms instead of coliform densities. Yet in other ways, the number of samples collected, the frequency of sampling, and sampling locations, coliform monitoring strategies have remained remarkably static over the years. A monitoring strategy consists of the monitoring objectives, the sampling design (i.e., numbers, locations, and frequency), the analytical design (i.e., test methods and sampling SOPs), and decision rules (i.e, basis for compliance). The refinement of the analytical methods for detecting coliforms parallels the rapid advances in analytical methods in other areas of environmental science. Likewise, the lag in development of rational sampling designs has been identified in environmental monitoring programs outside of drinking water. While the monitoring objectives of the TCR may seem obvious and unchanged over the years, they are in fact quite nuanced. How useful is coliform monitoring in predicting waterborne outbreaks? How effective is coliform monitoring in controlling cross connections? Is coliform monitoring primarily a check on the integrity of the distribution system? By evaluating the essential elements of a monitoring strategy in the context of the TCR, the white paper considers options for optimizing coliform monitoring strategies. Includes abstract only.