What are coliforms and fecal coliforms?
Many bacteria gather into colonies. They are generally referred to as (total) coliforms. Some coliforms are found in feces of humans, stock and wildlife. They are referred to as fecal coliforms. They aid the digestion of food and are generally more resistant to heat than other coliforms. The most common fecal coliform is Escherichia coli (E-Coli).