Well Water Tested Positive Coliform

If your water tests positive for total coliforms and positive for e coli there s a fecal contamination source which could be a leaking septic system or agricultural runoff containing animal waste.

Well water tested positive coliform.

Total coliform is a catch all term for the bacteria used in coliform testing. Discussion in pumps and tanks well forum blog water is life started by craig engleman jul 30 2012. The environmental protection agency epa provides additional information regarding the safety of drinking water. The presence of total coliform indicates that your water source has been exposed to environmental.

Generally speaking if your water tests positive for total coliforms but negative for e coli surface water has infiltrated the well. The mcl levels are based on the positive sample tests for total coliforms monthly mcl or for total coliforms and escherichia coli e. Coli or fecal coliforms acute mcl. When a water system receives an unsafe or total coliform positive sample result within 24 hours the owner or operator must collect a set of repeat total coliform samples in the distribution system for the revised total coliform rule rtcr.

Retest the water after the chlorine has left the system in about 10 days to two weeks make sure that the water tests negative for chlorine. Coli under the ground water rule gwr. Retest using proper sampling procedure and verify that e coli is tested for. If the sample still tests positive for total coliform then treat the system with chlorine.

Water well inspection and system maintenance. The purpose of the 1989 tcr is to protect public health by ensuring the integrity of the drinking water distribution system and monitoring for the presence of microbial. What is coliform bacteria. Coliform bacteria is a group of 16 species of bacteria used to indicate water quality.

Education and information about well testing including when to test water quality indicators total coliforms fecal coliforms ph nitrate volatile organic compounds total dissolved solids germs sewage feces chemicals and state certified drinking water laboratories. Call the epa s safe drinking water hotline at 800 426 4791. Total coliform fecal coliform and e. Also some types of coliform are harmful to ingest.

Additionally all ground water sources must be sampled for e. What to do if your. After repeating the coliform bacteria test to confirm the results and a follow up e. A positive test for coliform indicates that there could be dangerous organisms in your drinking water.

This means that if coliform is found in your well water there s a huge chance that other types of harmful bacteria parasites and pathogens are in the water as well. Coli test to determine the extent of the bacterial threat a professional contractor will perform a thorough inspection of your entire water well system and complete any necessary maintenance.