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What Are Coliforms?: "Indicator" Organisms

Coliforms are bacteria found in the digestive tracts of humans and animals. They are used as indicator organisms to test for fecal contamination in water. Total coliforms include bacteria from soil and water influenced by surface water, while fecal coliforms are specifically from warm-blooded animal guts and feces. E. coli is the best indicator of fecal pollution. Most coliform bacteria are not harmful, but some strains of E. coli like 0157:H7 can cause illness, with reported cases usually from undercooked hamburgers. Testing water samples for coliform bacteria is the only way to determine safety, with any presence indicating increased risk and fecal coliforms specifically indicating fecal pollution.

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57 views1 page

What Are Coliforms?: "Indicator" Organisms

Coliforms are bacteria found in the digestive tracts of humans and animals. They are used as indicator organisms to test for fecal contamination in water. Total coliforms include bacteria from soil and water influenced by surface water, while fecal coliforms are specifically from warm-blooded animal guts and feces. E. coli is the best indicator of fecal pollution. Most coliform bacteria are not harmful, but some strains of E. coli like 0157:H7 can cause illness, with reported cases usually from undercooked hamburgers. Testing water samples for coliform bacteria is the only way to determine safety, with any presence indicating increased risk and fecal coliforms specifically indicating fecal pollution.

Uploaded by

Angelo Edora
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

What are Coliforms?

Coliforms are bacteria that are always present in the digestive tracts of animals, including humans, and are found in
their wastes. They are also found in plant and soil material.

"Indicator" Organisms
Water pollution caused by fecal contamination is a serious problem due to the potential for contracting diseases from
pathogens. Coliforms are relatively easy to identify, are usually present in larger numbers than more dangerous
pathogens, and respond to the environment, wastewater treatment, and water treatment similarly to many
pathogens. As a result, testing for coliform bacteria can be a reasonable indication of whether other
pathogenic bacteria are present.

Total Coliforms, Fecal Coliforms, and E. Coli


Total coliforms include bacteria that are found in the soil, in water that has been influenced by surface water, and in

human or animal waste.

Fecal coliforms are the group of the total coliforms that are considered to be present specifically in the gut and feces

of warm-blooded animals. Because the origins of fecal coliforms are more specific than the origins of the more

general total coliform group of bacteria, fecal coliforms are considered a more accurate indication of animal or human

waste than the total coliforms.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the major species in the fecal coliform group. Of the five general groups of bacteria that

comprise the total coliforms, only E. coli is generally not found growing and reproducing in the environment.

Consequently, E. coli is considered to be the species of coliform bacteria that is the best indicator of fecal pollution

and the possible presence of pathogens.

Are Coliform Bacteria Harmful?


Most coliform bacteria do not cause disease. However, some rare strains of E. coli, particularly the strain 0157:H7,
can cause serious illness. Recent outbreaks of disease caused by E. coli 0157:H7 have generated much public
concern about this organism. E. coli 0157:H7 has been found in cattle, chickens, pigs, and sheep. Most of the
reported human cases have been due to eating under cooked hamburger. Cases of E. coli 0157:H7 caused by
contaminated drinking water supplies are rare.

Coliform Testing
Testing for bacteria is the only reliable way to know if your water is safe.

What do the Results Mean?


If coliform bacteria are present, your risk of contracting a water-borne illness is increased. Although total coliforms
can come from sources other than fecal matter, a positive total coliform sample should be considered an indication of
pollution. Positive fecal coliform results, especially positive E. Coli results, should be considered indication of fecal
pollution.

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