Water Quality Fecal Coliform How is water quality

Water Quality: Fecal Coliform How is water quality affected by interactions in a watershed?

• How do we know if our water is safe to drink?

How is water quality affected by interactions in a watershed? Consider these sources… www. ecy. wa. gov/. . . /joysmanual/fecalcoliform. html

Total Coliform Bacteria • are commonly found in the environment (e. g. , soil or vegetation) • are generally harmless • If only total coliform bacteria are detected in drinking water, the source is probably environmental not fecal. ucce. ucdavis. edu/files/filelibrary/5453/6581. gif

Fecal Coliform Bacteria • are a sub-group of total coliform bacteria • appear in great quantities in the intestines and feces of people and animals • fecal coliform in a drinking water sample means that there is a greater risk that other dangerous pathogens are present ucce. ucdavis. edu/files/filelibrary/5453/6581. gif

E. Coli Bacteria • is a sub-group of the fecal coliform group • most E. coli bacteria are harmless and are found in great quantities in the intestines of people and warm-blooded animals • some strains, like 0157: H 7, can cause illness. ucce. ucdavis. edu/files/filelibrary/5453/6581. gif

E. Coli Bacteria • Boiling or treating contaminated drinking water with a disinfectant destroys all forms of E. coli, including O 157: H 7. columbiariverkeeper. org/images/713 px-Escheric

Pathogens • Most pathogens that can contaminate water supplies come from the feces of humans or animals. Testing drinking water for all possible pathogens is complex, time -consuming, and expensive. It is relatively easy and inexpensive to test for coliform bacteria.

Testing for Coliform Bacteria www. dnr. mo. gov/env/esp/fecalcoliformanalysis. htm • The membrane filter technique involves filtering a water sample through a membrane to trap bacteria that are present in the sample. This filter is then placed on growth media and incubated at 44. 5°C for 24 hours. • The combination of selective media and high temperature favors the growth of fecal coliform bacteria while suppressing the growth of non-fecal coliform bacteria.

• Just a few of the organizations and public agencies that work to protect our water quality.

Washington Dept. of Health Office of Drinking Water • 243 Israel Road S. E. 2 nd floor Tumwater, WA 98501 Mail: P. O. Box 47822 Olympia, WA 98504 -7822 (360) 236 -3100 • Eastern Regional Office, Spokane • Coliform Program: 509 -456 -2788 Main Office: 509 -329 -2100 • DOH Pub #331 -181(Updated)