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What Is the Source of Coliform Bacteria?

Coliform bacteria is a mostly harmless microscopic organism that public health agencies watch for when testing water supplies. Its presence indicates that other contaminants might be in the water.

  1. General Coliform Bacteria

    • Coliform bacteria can be found everywhere in the environment: soil, plants and animals. Its presence in drinking water indicates that a water supply is not properly treated for contaminants. The water could have picked up the bacteria as it washed over soil and plants, or dirt could have fallen into a well. Coliform bacteria is harmless itself, but its presence serves as a warning that the water supply should be checked for other contamination.

    Fecal Coliform Bacteria

    • Fecal coliform bacteria is a subgroup of coliform bacteria, which are generally harmless. However, fecal coliform bacteria usually lives in the intestines and feces of warm-blooded animals, including humans and animals whose manure is used as fertilizer. When fecal coliform bacteria is detected in drinking water, the health risk is much higher than when only standard coliform bacteria is present. Fecal coliform bacteria indicates that sewage or runoff from manure-covered farmlands is getting into the water supply and isn't being removed properly. This usually means that dangerous bacteria and parasites could be in the water. Running and standing water in the environment, such as streams, rivers, ponds and lakes, are also a possible source of fecal coliform bacteria, especially if they are near farmland or sources of human sewage.

    E. Coli

    • E. coli is a type of fecal coliform bacteria that are prevalent in the intestines and feces of people and warm-blooded animals. Its presence in drinking water usually means that the water supply was recently contaminated by sewage or runoff from fertilized farmlands. Some strains of E. coli can cause illness in people. When it turns up in a water supply, it is considered a public health risk.

    Dealing with Contaminated Water

    • When fecal coliform bacteria and E. coli are found in drinking water, no one should drink the water directly from the tap. Instead, boil the water before using it for drinking or cooking. The water utility will try to resolve the problem by trying to find the source of the contamination, flushing the system and/or treating the water with chlorine.

    Symptoms of Contamination

    • If you expereince nausea, cramps, diarrhea and headaches, you could be infected with bacteria or parasites from water that has been contaminated by fecal coliform. See a doctor, especially if you learn after the onset of symptoms, that your water is contaminated.

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