My Well Water Tested Positive For Total Coliform

Additionally all groundwater sources must be.

My well water tested positive for total coliform. Water well inspection and system maintenance. Total coliform is a catch all term for the bacteria used in coliform testing. The most basic test for bacterial contamination of a water supply is the test for total coliform bacteria. 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.

Generally speaking if your water tests positive for total coliforms but negative for e coli surface water has infiltrated the well. 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. 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. However wells that have been found to test positive for coliform bacteria must be treated and retested until the problem is resolved.

What is coliform bacteria. Education and information about well testing including when to test water quality indicators total coliforms fecal coliforms ph nitrate volatile organic compounds total dissolved solids germs sewage feces chemicals and state certified drinking water laboratories. A positive test for coliform indicates that there could be dangerous organisms in your drinking water. When a water system receives a total coliform positive or total coliform present sample result within 24 hours the owner or operator of the system must collect a set of repeat total coliform samples in the distribution system for the revised total coliform rule rtcr.

Absent 0 colony forming units per 100 millilitres 0 cfu 100 ml. The environmental protection agency epa provides additional information regarding the safety of drinking water. Total coliform counts give a general indication of the sanitary condition of a water supply. After repeating the coliform bacteria test to confirm the results and a follow up e.

Additionally all ground water sources must be sampled for e. The presence of total coliform indicates that your water source has been exposed to environmental. Coliform bacteria is a group of 16 species of bacteria used to indicate water quality. Total coliform fecal coliform and e.

For every 100 ml of drinking water tested no total coliforms or e coli should be detected. Call the epa s safe drinking water hotline at 800 426 4791. These species are broken down into three groups. Also some types of coliform are harmful to ingest.

Coli under the ground water rule gwr.