Several particles are visible in the water, but the naked eye cannot see numerous different kinds of bacteria or parasites.
Deaths and diseases are reported yearly because these unseen organisms freely float in the water we drink. Though these cases may vary between countries, this does not mean we are safe. Contaminants are everywhere, and if untreated, they may cause illness.
Let us not put our lives to the test, living it to authority, and believe that the water supplied to us is crystal clear and free from harmful radicals; it may be safe for a few consumptions but will never be that safe for a lifetime.
Some situations, such as floods and other calamities, may contaminate our water; sometimes, this is due to our poor knowledge about how clean the water should be and our carelessness toward our surroundings.
Other factors that may also cause contaminations are factory leaks and garbage disposal to bodies of water.
As the population grows in numbers, so is our health is put at risk; pollution is always connected with population, and sad to say, though some of us are aware of these pathogens such as coliform bacteria, we still aren’t sure if we would happen if this bacteria would be on our waters and be taken into our bodies.
Understand the answers to these questions and educate yourself on how harmful coliform bacteria is to better understand what it is, how it affects us, what kinds of tests can identify the level of risk, and how to prevent it.
What Exactly is Coliform Bacteria
Coliform bacteria are commonly seen on animals' and humans' digestive tracts and feces; these microorganisms are only seen with a microscope.
Also found in water, plants, and other soil materials, coliform bacteria are used as sanitary indicators. This type of bacteria is commonly seen in contaminated areas or masses of water that are hazardous for human consumption.
This bacteria is commonly described as gram-negative rod-shaped and non-spore-forming bacteria. Coliforms are either motile or non-motile. Coliform bacteria are usually found in a watery environment and large in the feces of warm-blooded animals. It can also ferment lactose.
As a Contaminant Indicator
As stated, coliform bacteria are commonly found in the feces of animals and humans, indicating fecal contamination and pollution.
Water pollution is one of the most tackled problems nowadays, and as the mortality rate increases in poor sanitation areas, coliform bacteria are much more likely to be blamed.
Water pollution causes disease-causing organisms or pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, or protozoa. These pathogens have been clinically identified as responsible for all the water-borne diseases we encounter.
An Indicator of Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water
Three water coliform bacteria indicators are commonly used; each of these three has a different risk level depending on the detected contamination, and they are as follows:
Total Coliform Bacteria
Total coliform bacteria are commonly found in the environment; if detected in drinking water, it indicates contamination from sewage or animal wastes.
These may be due to sewage problems or leaks and improper disposal of animal wastes. These tests are performed with a “colorimetric” test, a specific color that indicates a total coliform bacteria presence.
Fecal Coliform Bacteria
The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in drinking water indicates contamination caused by recent fecal contamination. This contamination is considered alarming, demonstrating the presence of disease-causing organisms known as pathogens.
E.Coli
Though most E.coli strains are harmless and commonly seen in humans' and animals' intestines, some strains are known to cause illness or may cause food poisoning in older people or children.
If E. coli is detected in drinking water, it signifies fecal contamination, which increases the risk of pathogenic diseases.
Is Coliform Bacteria Harmful?
Some coliform bacteria are not harmful, but some strains of E. coli have been reported to cause diseases. Current reports of E. coli strain 0157:H7 are responsible for a recent outbreak in chickens, cattle, pigs, and sheep.
However, there are rare cases of 0157:H7 contamination in drinking water.
You cannot identify contamination by physically testing the water (appearance, clarity, and smell).
The test done on this particular problem will specifically identify the presence of contamination; thus, this kind of experience is subjected to frequent testing to further monitor the presence or level of contamination.
Common Defects That Allow Water Contamination
Our water well should be properly sealed to prevent contamination. An open cap or defective cap may allow contamination of drinking water.
Other causes of water contamination may also come from seepage through the good casing; holes and other defects, such as cracks on our wells, may also lead to water contamination. It allows water not filtered by the soil to penetrate and enter the well.
Well, heads below the ground are also prone to contamination, especially in flooded areas; this defect allows contaminants to enter the well and freely contaminate the water. Not properly sealed casings from old wells are also prone to water contamination.
Positive - What does it mean?
If you have undergone a water analysis of your drinking water at home and show a positive result, your water supply is fecally contaminated or has contamination.
Contaminated water should be treated or subject to testing and should be labeled as dangerous if taken.
Coliform bacteria are considered hazardous and known to cause illness and death if untreated; to avoid further health problems, you should consider changing the water supply or switching to a filter system that would eliminate all these unwanted bacteria.
These pathogens should be detected early to avoid further health problems.
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