My Well Water Tested Positive For Coliform

The presence of fecal coliform in.

My well water tested positive for coliform. If your well water tested positive for coliform don t panic yet. After repeating the coliform bacteria test to confirm the results and a follow up e. If the sample still tests positive for total coliform then treat the system with chlorine. If coliform bacteria are found in a water sample water system operators work to find the source of contamination and restore safe drinking water.

However wells that have been found to test positive for coliform bacteria must be treated and retested until the problem is resolved. When coliform bacteria are present in a water supply it is considered to be a potential health hazard and is classified as unsafe for human consumption. There s a chance that the water is perfectly safe to drink but you will want to get it tested and disinfected as soon as you can just in case. E coli is one of the members of the coliform group.

Coli under the ground water rule gwr. It is important not to confuse the test for the common and usually harmless wqi e. Call the epa s safe drinking water hotline at 800 426 4791. Retest the water after the chlorine has left the system in about 10 days to two weeks make sure that the water tests negative for chlorine.

Water well inspection and system maintenance. It is relatively easy and inexpensive to test for coliform bacteria. It is a fecal bacteria which. However a positive test may mean that feces and harmful germs have found their way into your water system.

Additionally all ground water sources must be sampled for e. Testing drinking water for all possible pathogens is complex time consuming and expensive. Coli test to determine the extent of the bacterial threat a professional contractor will perform a thorough inspection of your entire water well system and complete any necessary maintenance. When a water system receives an unsafe or total coliform positive sample result within 24 hours the owner or operator must collect a set of repeat total coliform samples in the distribution system for the revised total coliform rule rtcr.

The environmental protection agency epa provides additional information regarding the safety of drinking water. It is important to know that the coliform test gives no indication if the water is chemically safe to drink. Coli with a test for the more dangerous germ e. Retest using proper sampling procedure and verify that e coli is tested for.

Generally speaking if your water tests positive for total coliforms but negative for e coli surface water has infiltrated the well.