Our well water has tested positive for coliform bacteria. It has tested negative for E-coli. Unfortunately not even the public health can tell me what this means (fear of a lawsuit if they say the wrong thing?) We are renters and we have been trying to push our landlord to fix our well. It is a very shallow well with the top exposed (no cover), wood lining with roots growing through. Just looking at it, you can tell how unsanitary it is. Three weeks ago they promised to cover the well. This has not happened. Can someone tell me what exactly coliform is (other than a bacteria), where it comes from and what is the best long term solution for correcting this. Other than the well issues we love the house. Right now we use bottled water for cooking, drinking, brushing our teeth. We are bathing in the water and washing our dishes in it. Please help!
2007-05-18 07:48:57 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
Coliform are a bacteria which is normally found in the environment. Its presence may indicate that only environmental bacteria are present. Faecal coliform (a subset of coliform) presence is an indication that the water is contaminated from animal faeces. Possibly to a level which is harmful, but that depends on the level of contamination. E coli are are common type of faecal coliform bacteria. They are normally found in the gut of humans and other animals. they are generally used as a marker for all faecal coliforms. The second link explains the relationship between the forms. It sounds like the well contains only environmental coliforms. But try to get a more specific report.
2007-05-18 08:25:45 · answer #1 · answered by Labsci 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This website might give you some answers http://www.wellowner.org/awaterquality/coliform.shtml
2007-05-18 15:28:49 · answer #2 · answered by ♥♥The Queen Has Spoken♥♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋