How to Get Rid of Non-Colony Coliform

Coliform bacteria testing is the most common water test conducted on private wells and springs, according to Penn State University. Coliform bacteria refers to a large group of bacteria that is common in the environment. While not all coliform bacteria is harmful, the coliform that is found in fecal matter can cause illness if found in your drinking water. If your water tests come back positive for the presence of coliform bacteria, getting rid of it is imperative for your family's health. There are numerous types of coliform bacteria, both colony and non-colony forming, but all types are treated in the same manner.

Instructions

• 1

  Boil any water that is confirmed containing coliform bacteria before drinking it. Boiling the water will kill the bacteria and make it safe for consumption. Boil at a rolling boil for at least five minutes before you drink it.

• 2

  Check your water system for sources of contamination. Check your well and prevent any surface water from entering it by extending a buried well casing above ground or moving the ground so it slopes away from the casing.

• 3

  Check your well casing so the cap is tight and sanitary. Make sure insects and animals cannot gain access to your spring or well. Open wells are a common source for contamination.

• 4

  Check for other sources of contamination. Backflow from hoses outside your house can add dirty water to your well. This is usually caused by negative pressure in your plumbing. Sometimes contamination can come from unsanitary plumbing. If you use water treatment filters on your well, make sure you service them frequently to prevent bacterial growth.

• 5

  Disinfect your well by shock chlorination. Remove any loose or foreign bodies from your well. Clean any accessible interior surface with chlorine solution that contains 1/2 gallon chlorine bleach per 5 gallons water. Place hose in the well and turn it on. Wait for the smell of chlorine to come from the hose. Let it circulate until you can smell chlorine coming from all taps in your house. Flush your toilets and let water stand 12 to 24 hours. Run all faucets, indoors and outside, until the smell of chlorine is gone. Make sure the chlorinated water doesn't flow back into the well or into your septic system.

• 6

  Filter your water. You can purchase a water filter at a hardware store that you set up on your sink at home to remove impurities, such as bacteria, from your water. In many cases, filters are used in conjunction with chlorinators.

• 7

  Test your water again to ensure it contains no trace of coliform bacteria. Sometimes an animal or insect gaining access to the well is another to cause contamination.

• 8

  Test your water at least once per year to make sure the infection has not returned. Unless you discover the source of coliform infection in your well water, the infection will return even if you treat it once. Sometimes the groundwater itself is the source of the bacteria. If coliform bacteria continues to return, consider tapping into the public water supply. You can also purchase a continuous disinfection system for your water such as ultraviolet light or a chlorinator. Talk to a water treatment professional about these options.