If Coliform Bacteria was in the water, what does this tell us about the quality of the river water?

Answer 1

It really depends on the quantity, since Coliform is found naturally. However, a great deal of it in the water will tell you that there is contamination from direct discharge of waste from mammals and birds, from agricultural and storm runoff, and from untreated human sewage or it could be the result of plant material, and pulp or paper mill effluent.

It does not always give accurate or useful results regarding the purity of water.

Answer 2

"Coliform bacteria are a large group of bacteria that occur throughout the environment. They are used as an indicator organism to indicate the potential for disease-causing bacteria to be present in water. Most coliform bacteria do not cause disease, but the greater their number the greater the likelihood that disease-causing bacteria may be present. Fecal coliform bacteria are a smaller group of bacteria within the coliform bacteria group" and these are the disease causing coliforms.

Here are 3 helpful websites. The first one is the one I quoted.

Answer 3

All rivers have bacteria in them and is why u should not drink from it even if it looks ok. We need to filter and add chlorine to kill every thing else.