What are the health risks of drinking water positive for E. coli and fecal coliforms?
Consuming water containing E. coli and fecal coliforms can cause intestinal upset as well as diseases such as dysentery, hepatitis, and giardiasis. IMPORTANT: If your water was positive for coliforms and the water was not tested by the lab for E. coli or fecal coliforms, you cannot be sure they are not there and you should take precautions by boiling the water or disinfecting. See “How can drinking water be disinfected?” What are the possible sources of contamination? Most bacteria in wells or springs come from surface water directly entering the well. The water may be contaminated by bacteria that are naturally in the soils, decayed animal waste or human activities. As surface water seeps downward through the soil to the water table, these bacteria may be naturally removed by the soils. The extent of removal depends on the depth and character of the soil. In general, shallow wells and springs are more likely to be contaminated than deep wells. Wells and springs must be properly locate
