Coliform is a family of bacteria common in soils, plants, animals and water. The coliform family is made up of several groups, one of which is the fecal coliform group, which is found in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals including humans.
Coliform bacteria are a valuable tool in the drinking water industry. We use coliform bacteria as an indicator organism. If we detect coliform bacteria in the drinking water, then there is a strong possibility that a pathogenic organism is also present. (A pathogen is a disease causing bacteria.) When we see a Coliform bacteria in water we then extend and refine the analysis process to specifically test for fecal coliform bacteria.
One of the harmful coliform bacteria that we hear about in the news is the Escherichia Coli
pronounciation: "eshhh-sure-ree-she-yah", then "Coal-eye", or the shortened version, simply, E. Coli.
E. Coli (from fecal matter). Many times we hear a recall on raw hamburger and chicken even vegetables because of dangerous levels of E. Coli bacteria in them. Another bacteria we are familiar with is Streptococcus pyogenes (strep throat) and even Salmonella (food poisoning) to name just a few.
Coliform or other bacteria in drinking or swimming water will not necessarily make you ill, because remember, not all Coliform bacteria are harmful.
E. Coli Streptococcus Salmonella
Coliform bacteria may enter the water supply if rain or snow runoff pools around the well or spring casing, if the well or spring cover is not airtight, or if the pipe leading to the house is not properly inserted and welded or grouted into the well or spring. These two links will take you to illustrations that show the many sources of contamination that can get into our drinking water. waterquality_ms.pdf EPA cutaway
In addition, insects, snakes, mice or other creatures getting into the well or spring can cause contamination.
Improperly maintained treatment devices also can be a source of contamination. Home water filters and other water treatment devices should be changed and maintained in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations.
The City of St. Helens performs weekly bacteria samples on your drinking water to insure a safe, high quality drinking water is being delivered to your homes.
The test used to detect for bacteria has two steps.
If a bacteria sample were to ever come back positive for Fecal Coliform contamination, we, your water supplier, are immediately notified by the laboratory, and we have to immediately take three more water samples from the distribution system. One of the samples is taken from the same site where the coliform was detected, and the second sample is taken from a source upstream of the original location and the third sample is taken from a source downstream of the original sample. Our objective is to find out where the source of the bacteria is coming from. Statistically speaking, 99 % of bacteria samples that do come back positive are from human error in gathering and handling the sample. We are proud to say that St. Helens has not had this problem and that your drinking water has not had bacterial contamination.
If your drinking water were to have a bacterial contamination problem, we, your drinking water supplier, are required by Federal and State law to immediately notify you, the public, by means of radio, TV, newspapers or flyers of the bacterial contamination and full instructions on what you would need to do to make your drinking water safe so you can continue using it for drinking, cooking and bathing.
The City of St. Helens is proud to inform you that we have a staff of highly trained, State certified and skilled professionals with years of experience in the fields of water and wastewater treatment, water distribution and wastewater collection systems.
These professionals are your first line of defense to deliver to you a safe, pure and high quality drinking water supply and a safe and sanitary process in wastewater treatment and disposal. If you are interested in obtaining information about your drinking water, consult the water quality report that you should be receiving annually from your local water system. St. Helens water quality reports are also posted on the home page of this web site.
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This page last updated 4/07/2010 by HWB
