This review summarizes the literature published in 2012 pertaining to the occurrence and detection of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and pathogens. It is organized into the following sections: i) methods for the detection and quantification of waterborne fecal indicators and pathogens including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), isothermal amplification, label-free methods, microarrays, immunoassay-based methods, microfluidic-based methods, and advances in sample processing and concentration at the limit of detection (LOD), ii) microbial source tracking (MST) using both genotypic and phenotypic-based methods, iii) environmental occurrence, persistence, and transport of fecal indicators and pathogens. © 2013 Water Environment Federation.