BACTERIA IN WELL WATER

You must know your water’s bacterial quality to know if it is safe for consumption. Bacteria are tiny living creatures too small to be seen by the human eye. You must have your water tested at an accredited laboratory to know if harmful bacteria are present. 

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Testing for total coliforms and E. coli is recommended every 6 - 12 months, or when you notice a change in water quality.

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COLIFORM + E.COLI

Total coliforms are a group of bacteria found in soil and in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, including humans. E. coli are found only in the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals.

The presence of E. coli indicates that the water source or the system has been contaminated by sewage and the water is unsafe to drink. The presence of total coliform in the absence of E. coli means either that the well is prone to surface water infiltration and therefore is at risk of sewage contamination or that a biofilm has developed within the well or plumbing system. You need the results of both E. coli and total coliform tests to help find the source of the problem.