Total Coliform Bacteria In Well Water Treatment

Animal feces raw surface water soil and decaying plants normally contain varying amounts of coliform.

Total coliform bacteria in well water treatment.

There are three measurements of coliform bacteria. Generally speaking if your water tests positive for total coliforms but negative for e coli surface water has infiltrated the well. Total coliform fecal coliform and e. The presence of total coliform indicates that your water source has been exposed to environmental.

These species are broken down into three groups. Coliform bacteria is a group of 16 species of bacteria used to indicate water quality. If your water tests positive for total coliforms and positive for e coli there s a fecal contamination source which could be a leaking septic system or agricultural runoff containing animal waste. What is coliform bacteria.

The bacteria are then grown in a laboratory and quantified. The most common water test for bacteria is for total coliform bacteria. Although total coliforms can come from sources other than fecal matter a positive total coliform sample should be considered an indication of pollution in your well. Water samples for coliform bacteria must be collected in sterile bottles using specific procedures.

Measurement of coliform bacteria in drinking water. This measurement includes all coliform bacteria. These bacteria can migrate into well water and cause the water to become biologically polluted. Water tests for total coliform bacteria can be arranged through a local office of the pennsylvania department of environmental protection dep or by a state certified commercial water.

If coliform bacteria are present in your drinking water your risk of contracting a water borne illness is increased.