Total Coliform Bacteria In Well Water Treatment

These species are broken down into three groups.

Total coliform bacteria in well water treatment.

The most common water test for bacteria is for total coliform bacteria. 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. Water samples for coliform bacteria must be collected in sterile bottles using specific procedures. Coliform bacteria is a group of 16 species of bacteria used to indicate water quality.

Total coliform fecal coliform and e. Animal feces raw surface water soil and decaying plants normally contain varying amounts of coliform. Total coliform is a catch all term for the bacteria used in coliform testing. This measurement includes all coliform bacteria.

Measurement of coliform bacteria in drinking water. The presence of total coliform indicates that your water source has been exposed to environmental. What is coliform bacteria. 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. 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. The bacteria are then grown in a laboratory and quantified.

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.