Tag Archives for " e. coli "
Coliform Bacteria Testing At Home: The Do’s and The Don’ts
Health authorities strongly recommend annual coliform bacteria testing for private water wells as contamination can occur without any change in taste or odor to the water. Depending on your needs, there are many options available for coliform bacteria testing, ranging from testing yourself at home to EPA-certified, lab quality testing.
There are many ways that well water can become contaminated by coliform bacteria, so it is most important to test:
- Once a year for all private residential water wells
- After a new well has been constructed
- After recent work has been done on the well
- If you suspect or see any indication that contamination has occurred due to interaction with flood water
Coliform Bacteria Contamination: Causes, How To Test For Bacteria, and Prevention
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, coliform bacteria are common in the environment and are generally not harmful. However, the presence of these bacteria in well water or spring water usually indicates that the water may be contaminated with germs that can cause disease and can even contaminate your well water without any change in taste or odor to the water. Therefore, the US EPA recommends annual testing of residential water wells for coliform bacteria.Read More
Testing for and Treating Coliform Bacteria
Coliform is a type of harmless bacteria found naturally in the environment and in our bodies. According to the EPA, coliform is “not a health threat in itself; it is used to indicate whether other potentially harmful bacteria may be present.”[1] The presence of coliform in water is a strong indicator of recent sewage or animal waste contamination, which may contain disease-causing organisms like E. coli.