DOCSLIB.ORG

Drinking Water V

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Drinking Water V 841 Chestnut Street, a:~onltori~~fre¶uencyfor small ' ' . Philadeiphia community water systems and all non- ' . .~~~~~~~ PA 19107, (2151- 597-9873 community water systems Parts 141 and 142 %V.Michael J. Leonard, [I] General GFR 345 Courtland Street, (2) Non-community water systems Atlanta, GA 30365, b. Monitoring frequency for large 1404) 347-2913 Community water systems rfaklwg Water; Mationas Prima9 %'..Joseph Harrison, &Repeat samples/addikional routine ~pi~~ingW&er ~@~~~~t~~~~ Total 230 S. Dearborn Street, samples ~~i~f~~~~(including Fecal Coliforms Chicago, IL 60604, d. Additional monitoring.€orunfiltered asad E. Coli) (312) 353-2650 -stwfacewater systems W. Thomas Love, e. Chlorine substitution policy AGENCY: Environmental Protection Ross Avenue. 8. Fecal Coliform and E. coli Requiremerats Agency (EPA]. Dallas, TX 75202, 7. Heterotrophic Bacteria 1rt:esference (214) 655-7155 AcmO&l: Final rule, D. Analytical Methodology VII. Ralph Langemeier, 1. Analytical Methods for Total Coliforms I~UMNIARY: This rule, promulgated under 326 Minnesota Ave., 2. Analytical Methods for Fecal Coliforms &mas City, the Safe DrinkingWater Act (42 U.S.C, KS 68101, and E. coli 19131 2352815 E. Laboratory Certification 3Wf et seq.), amends-the currrent VrII. Marc iilston, national primary drinking water V. Variances and Exemptions One Demer Wacs, VI. Best Available Technologies @ATs) for regulation [NPDWR), including &e 9% 18th Sheet, suite1300, Total Coliforms maximum contaminant level, ~o~~~o~~~~Denver, @O 80202-2413, VU. Reporting, Recordkeeping,and Public requirements, and analytical (303) 293-1424 Notification requirements, for totaf coliform bacteria IX. William Thurston, A. Reporting and Recordkeeping ["total colifoms"), including fecal 215 Fremont Street, B. Public Notification !..anwage: Total eolliforms and Escherichia coli [E coh]. 8an Francisco, CA 94105, Coliforms This rule applies to all public water (415) 978-0763 C. Public Notification Language: Fecal X. Richard Thiel, ColifohdE. coli 'systems. Inthis notice, EPA is also 1200 Sixth Avenue, publishing a maximum contaminant Seattle, WA 981131, level goal of zero for total coliforms, (206) 442-1225 irncluding fecal coliforms and E. coli. FOR ~~~~~~ I~~~~NI~T~~~CO#VACT: EFFECTIVE DATE: ThiQrule is effective Pad S. Berger, Ph.D., Microbiologist, December 31,1990. Tie incorporation by Office QfDrinkingWater (W-"D), reference of certain publications listed Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M in the rule was approved by the Director Street, SW., Washington, DC 20480, the of Federal Registei as of December telephone [ZOZ) 382-3039. Information 31, asso. also may be obtained from the EPA Safe ADWESSEI: Public commentson &e Drinking Water Hotline. Callers within' proposal, the comrnent/response . the United States (except Washington, . document, applicz%leFederal Register . .. DC -andAlaska), Puerto Rico, and the notice, other major supporting Virgin Islands may reach the Safe . documents, and a copy of the index to &bking Water Hotline at (800) 426- the public docket forthis rulemaking are 4791; callers in the Washhgton, DC area available for review at.EPA's Drinking and Alaskrimay reach the Hothe at ,Water Docket; 401 M Street, SW.; (202) 3826533. The Safe Drinking Water Washington, DC 217460. For access to yotline.is open Monday through Friday, docket materials call'[Zo2) 382-3027 excluding Federal holidays, from 8:30 between 9 a.m. and-3:30 p.m. In addition, amto 400 p.m, Eastern Time. criteria documents for total coliforms and heterotrophic bacteria me available SU~PL~~~.~~A~Y1N~o~NI~Tl~~: from the National Technical Information Table of Contents Center, 5285 Port Royal Road, I. Statutary Authority S~~~ng~iel~,VA 22161;%e td-free 11. Summary of Final Rule number is @Do) 336-4700; the heal al. B&Ck@lFo?lnd &umberis f703f 4874650. Major A. Regulatory Background ~~~~or~~ngdocuments cited in the B. Public Comments on the Proposal IV. Explanation of Final Provisions reference section of this notice are . available for inspection at the Drinkhg Water Su;iply Branches in EPA's B. Nlaximilm Contaminant Level .. Regional Offices, listed below. 1.' Presence-Absence Concept I. jerome Healey, 2. Monthly MCL Federal Bldg., Roo% 203, 3. Long-term MCE Boston, MA 02203. C. Monitoring Requirements I6171 56,&-36¶0 1. Basis: Population Served ts. Other 11. W-alter Andrews, Alternatives 26 Federal Plaza, 2. Sampling Sites Rooln a4, 3. Sa-tary Surveys New York, N Y 10270, 4. Invalidation of Total Coliform-Positive lal2; 264-1850 Samples II!. Jon Capacaaa, 5. Monitoring Frequency -- T distributim system, the State may waive the requirement to collect ai: least one repeat sample upstreaq pr downstream, of the original sampling,&e.. * If total coliforms are detected in my repeat sample, the system must collect another set of repeat samples, as before, unless :he MCL has been uio'rated and the system has notified the State (in which case the State may reduce OF eliminate the yequirement;totake the remaining repeat sa~~ples). 0 If a-system has ~nlyone service connection, the State has the discretion to allow the system to either collect the . required set of repeat sarxplas at the s~metap overa four-day period OP to collect a larger vofume repeat san?,ples(sfje.g., a single- 4W-rnf samplti.).. 0 'If a system which collects fewer than five routine samples/rnolatf.,detects, total coiifoms in any routine or repeat sample (and the.sample is not invalidated by the State]; itmust.coIlect a set of five routine sampjes the next month the system provibeswater.to tke public, exeept that &E State may waive this requirement if (11 it perfonis a sitg visit to evaftlate the contaminatiqn . problem, or (21 it has determined why the sample was total coliform-gasitive and {a)this finding is EZocumeFted in writing, along with what actici~the sy-stem: has taken or will take to correct this pFobIem before the end cf the aext month the system serves water to the public, (b) this document is signed by the s;ape'mEsor of the State official who makes the fiinding&c) the docu~entatiora is made available to EPA and &ha public, and [dl in certain cases (described in the rule], the'systamclrlIects at least one. : additional sampie. e Unfiltered surface water spfems and systems usizg unfilteredground water UR&~thp direct influence of' . surface'water must analyze one cdiIorm sample ea& day the irarbidity of the source wafer exceeds one NTU. [This sam$le counts toward the system's sni~imummanitoring requirsmnts.] * Table%P end 2 summarize the routine and repea: ssmpre monitiJring requirements for total col'^amxms. 25 to l,WW ......................... ;....................... 1,001 10 2,500............................................... 2,501 to 3,300.............................................. 1I 'i 3.301 to 4,100.................................. :............I 4 Popdaiion served 9/mo or fewer I- L/m.......................... ... 3/m 4,101 to 4,900 5 ....................................*..... ..... 4/STIQ 4,901 to 5,800 5 ............................................... 5/mo OF more 5,803 tQ 6,700.............................................. 7 to 7,600...... ...................... .................. 8 am 1 Number of repeat samples in the Same month 7,601 to 5.500 .............................................. 9 for ea& total coliform-positive routine sample. 8,501 to 12,900.................................... i... ..... 10 Except where State has invalidated the original 12,901 to 17,200........................................... 15 routine sample, er where State subst~tutesan on7site 17.209 to 21,500................... "....................... 20 evaluation of the problem, or where the State wacves 21,501 to-25,000 25 the requirement ob a case-by-casebasis. See '40 ........................................... CFR 14t.21a(b)E5j for more detail. 25,001 to 33.000 ........................................... 30 a Systems need not taks any additional sa.mple$ 33,001 t0'41,000 ........................................... 4 beyond Whose it is required to &tie according to 41,001 to 50,000 .... ,.......e....-. I.......<.C......- BO T*% i. 50,001 to 54,000 .......... 68,001 to 70,000................... ............... ......... 70 70.001 to 83,000............ ....-. ........................ 86) 83,003 to 96,000........................................... 90 !%,00.1 to 130,000 ............... ......................... 100 430,005 to 220,800 ............. _..~...l................ II 20 220,0131 to 320,000...................................... 9 50 320.?01 to 450.000 ...................................... 1BO 450,001 b 600,000 ...................................... a 0 HX3,001 to 780,000 ...................................... 240 780,001 to 970,000;.,.... *....*.*....................... 270 970,001 to 1,230,000........... ..... --.*.*** ......... $00 -l,230,0i)f to 1,520,000 ................................ 890 1,520,001 to'l,8%0,000 ................................ 360 t.8m,oot tQ 2,270,000................................ 390 2.270,0,1107 b 3,026,000................................ 420 9.020,W1 to 3,960,000 ................................ 450 3,9$0,001 or more ............. ;.......................... it80 water systems [all other systems). Currgntnfly there are approximately 60,000 community water systems and 149,000 non-community water systems. Despite existing drinking water regulations, waterborne disease outbreaks continue to occur. For example, between 191 and 2983 there were 427 reported outbreaks with over 100,000 cases of waterborne
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Finding Sources of Fecal Coliform Bacteria in Stormwater Runoff
    Finding sources of fecal coliform bacteria in stormwater runoff David Tomasko, Ph.D. May 12, 2016 Why the concern over bacteria? • Cholera – Tens of millions killed over the centuries – > 100,000 Americans • 11th President, James Polk • Typhoid fever – Jamestown Colony – More deaths than from battle in Civil War Modes of transmission of typhoid (Anonymous 1939) John Snow and the founding of modern epidemiology Located ca. 10’ from abandoned cess pit Two main types of bacteria • Cocci (from Greek for seed) – Round • Single • Chains • More complex arrangements • Bacilli (from Latin for stick) – Rod-shaped • Single • Chains • More complex Total coliform bacteria • Subset of “rod or stick-shaped” bacteria – Pathogenic (disease-causing) – Non-pathogenic • Why such a broad category? – Inability of historical monitoring programs to detect specific pathogenic bacteria (National Research Council [NRC] 2004) • Vibrio cholerae – cholera • Salmonella typhii – typhoid fever • Problems? – Lack of specificity – Lots of false positives • Need for a more refined technique Fecal coliform bacteria • Testing using techniques hopefully more similar to human gastrointestinal tract – Higher incubation temperature • Replicating warm blooded organisms – Bile salts • Produced by liver • Original derivation of 200 colony forming units (cfu) / 100 ml – 18% of “total” coliform bacteria from Ohio River would test positive (NRC 2004) – Prior standard for total colform bacteria (U.S. Federal Water Pollution Control Administration) of 1,000 cfu / 100 ml – 0.18 x 1,000
    [Show full text]
  • Total and Fecal Coliform Bacteria
    TOTAL AND FECAL COLIFORM BACTERIA The coliform bacteria group consists of several types of bacteria belonging to the family enterobacteriaceae. These mostly harmless bacteria live in soil, water, and the digestive system of animals. Fecal coliform bacteria, which belong to this group, are present in large numbers in the feces and intestinal tracts of humans and other warm-blooded animals, and can enter water bodies from human and animal waste. If a large number of fecal coliform bacteria (over 200 colonies/100 milliliters or 200 cfu/100 ml) are found in water, it is possible that pathogenic (disease- or illness-causing) organisms are also present in the water. Fecal coliform by themselves are usually not pathogenic; they are indicator organisms, which means they may indicate the presence of other pathogenic bacteria. Pathogens are typically present in such small amounts it is impractical monitor them directly. For more information on E. coli and other pathogenic bacteria, see the U.S. FDA Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition's "Bad Bug Book" . Swimming in waters with high levels of fecal coliform bacteria increases the chance of developing illness (fever, nausea or stomach cramps) from pathogens entering the body through the mouth, nose, ears, or cuts in the skin. Diseases and illnesses that can be contracted in water with high fecal coliform counts include typhoid fever, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, dysentery and ear infections. Fecal coliform, like other bacteria, can usually be killed by boiling water or by treating it with chlorine. Washing thoroughly with soap after contact with contaminated water can also help prevent infections.
    [Show full text]
  • Fecal Coliform and E. Coli Concentrations in Effluent-Dominated Streams of the Upper Santa Cruz Watershed
    Water 2013, 5, 243-261; doi:10.3390/w5010243 OPEN ACCESS water ISSN 2073-4441 www.mdpi.com/journal/water Article Fecal Coliform and E. coli Concentrations in Effluent-Dominated Streams of the Upper Santa Cruz Watershed Emily C. Sanders, Yongping Yuan * and Ann Pitchford Landscape Ecology Branch, Environmental Sciences Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development, 944 East Harmon Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA; E-Mails: [email protected] (E.C.S.); [email protected] (A.P.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-702-798-2112; Fax: +1-702-798-2208. Received: 4 January 2013; in revised form: 26 February 2013 / Accepted: 26 February 2013 / Published: 11 March 2013 Abstract: This study assesses the water quality of the Upper Santa Cruz Watershed in southern Arizona in terms of fecal coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria concentrations discharged as treated effluent and from nonpoint sources into the Santa Cruz River and surrounding tributaries. The objectives were to (1) assess the water quality in the Upper Santa Cruz Watershed in terms of fecal coliform and E. coli by comparing the available data to the water quality criteria established by Arizona, (2) to provide insights into fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) response to the hydrology of the watershed and (3) to identify if point sources or nonpoint sources are the major contributors of FIB in the stream. Assessment of the available wastewater treatment plant treated effluent data and in-stream sampling data indicate that water quality criteria for E.
    [Show full text]
  • Fecal Coliform in Waco's Wetlands Cerin Daniel, Tiffany Du, Wakeelah Crutison Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798
    The Effect of Rainfall on Fecal Coliform in the Lake Waco Wetlands Cerin Daniel, Tiffany Du, Wakeelah Crutison Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798 Abstract: The primary objective of this project was to determine if Lake Waco Wetlands was reducing the amount of fecal coliform as water passed Materials and Methods: through the cells. The hypothesis stated that the amount of fecal Materials: coliform would decrease as the water flowed through the various cells EMB plate, incubator plate, test tubes and lactose broth, petri dish, filter paper, of the wetlands. Water samples were collected from four cells in the indole reagent, crystal violet, iodine, acetone alcohol, Safrinin, microscope wetlands. The Standard Qualitative Analysis of Water was utilized to detect fecal contamination. A series of tests which included the Method: presumptive test, the confirmed test, and the completed test were Collecting Data: Samples were collected with sterile cups. Cell one sample was utilized to determine whether fecal coliform was within the water collected near the water pipe which brings in water from the Bosque River. samples. If fecal coliform was present, a Gram stain identified if the Samples from cell two and cell three were collected near the beginning of the bacteria was E. coli. The results showed the MPN (most probable cell. Cell four sample was collected at the end of the cell. Each location was number of coliform)/ 100 mL declined as the amount of coliform flowed relatively close to the shore and was in a low-movement area. through the wetlands. It was concluded that the natural purification A.
    [Show full text]
  • Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water Supplies
    WHAT ARE COLIFORMS? TOTAL COLIFORMS, FECAL ARE COLIFORM BACTERIA Coliforms are bacteria that are always COLIFORMS, AND E. COLI HARMFUL? present in the digestive tracts of animals, The most basic test for bacterial Most coliform bacteria do not cause including humans, and are found in their contamination of a water supply is the test disease. However, some rare strains of E. wastes. They are also found in plant and soil for total coliform bacteria. Total coliform coli, particularly the strain 0157:H7, can material. counts give a general indication of the cause serious illness. Recent outbreaks sanitary condition of a water supply. of disease caused by E. coli 0157:H7 have generated much public concern about this “Indicator” A. Total coliforms include bacteria that organism. E. coli 0157:H7 has been found organisms are found in the soil, in water that has been in cattle, chickens, pigs, and sheep. Most of Water pollution caused by fecal influenced by surface water, and in human the reported human cases have been due contamination is a serious problem or animal waste. to eating under cooked hamburger. Cases due to the potential for contracting of E. coli 0157:H7 caused by contaminated B. Fecal coliforms are the group of the diseases from pathogens (disease- drinking water supplies are rare. causing organisms). Frequently, total coliforms that are considered to be concentrations of pathogens from present specifically in the gut and feces fecal contamination are small, and of warm-blooded animals. Because the the number of different possible origins of fecal coliforms are more specific pathogens is large.
    [Show full text]
  • Standard Operating Procedures for the Collection of Fecal Coliform Bacteria Samples in On-Site Sewage Systems
    Standard Operating Procedures for the Collection of Fecal Coliform Bacteria Samples in On-Site Sewage Systems Wastewater Management Program, [email protected], 360-236-3330 DOH 337-156 June 2018 For people with disabilities, this document is available on request in other formats. To submit a request, please call 1-800-525-0127 (TDD/TTY call 711) Page 1 1. Purpose and Scope 1.1. This document is the Washington State Department of Health (WSDOH) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for collecting grab samples directly into sample bottles for the purpose of wastewater sampling and analysis of fecal coliform bacteria. The typical methods for fecal coliform analysis are: Standard Methods (SM) 9222D- a membrane filtration (MF) method and SM9221E the most-probable number (MPN) method. 1.2. This SOP includes the procedures for sample collection by hand with an extension sampler pole from a sampling location in an on-site sewage system. 2. Applicability These procedures are for the proper collection of grab samples for laboratory analysis of fecal coliform. We will collect samples from an on-site sewage system’s wastewater stream. This document is for post-UV disinfection unit effluent sampling locations where a free-falling sample can be easily collected by placing a sample bottle under the flow from the end of an open discharge pipe. With a well-mixed wastewater flow stream and with relatively uniform chemistry, these methods described in the SOP are sufficient to represent the effluent of the UV disinfection unit. 3. Definitions 3.1. Chain of Custody – An unbroken trail of accountability that assures the physical security of samples, data, and records.
    [Show full text]
  • Coliform Bacteria and Drinking Water
    Fact Sheet Coliform Bacteria Revised March 2004 and Drinking Water DOH PUB. #331 181 Public water systems are required to deliver safe and reliable drinking water to their customers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If the water supply becomes contaminated, consumers can become seriously ill. Fortunately, many steps are being taken to ensure that the public is provided with safe drinking water. One of the most important steps is to have the water tested for coliform bacteria. Public water systems must test for coliform bacteria regularly. What are coliform bacteria? Coliform bacteria are organisms that are present in the environment and in the feces of all warm-blooded animals and humans. Coliform bacteria will not likely cause illness. However, the presence of coliform bacteria in drinking water indicates that disease-causing organisms (pathogens) may be present in the water system. 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. If coliform bacteria are found in a water sample, steps are taken to find the source of contamination and restore safe drinking water. There are three different groups of coliform bacteria; each has a different level of risk. Total coliform, fecal coliform, and E. coli Total coliform, fecal coliform, and E. coli are all indicators of drinking water quality. The total coliform group is a large collection of different kinds of bacteria. The fecal coliform group is a sub-group of total coliform and has fewer kinds of bacteria.
    [Show full text]
  • Reduction of Fecal Coliform Bacteria Through the Elimination of Sewage Discharges in West Virginia Streams Kady Rogers University of Kentucky
    University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & College of Public Health Dr.P.H.) 2016 Reduction of Fecal Coliform Bacteria Through the Elimination of Sewage Discharges in West Virginia Streams Kady Rogers University of Kentucky Click here to let us know how access to this document benefits oy u. Recommended Citation Rogers, Kady, "Reduction of Fecal Coliform Bacteria Through the Elimination of Sewage Discharges in West Virginia Streams" (2016). Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.). 79. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cph_etds/79 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the College of Public Health at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.) by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained and attached hereto needed written permission statements(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine). I hereby grant to The nivU ersity of Kentucky and its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluation of the Microbial Quality of Cantaloupe Fruit Produced On
    Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Master's Theses Graduate School 2017 Evaluation of the Microbial Quality of Cantaloupe Fruit Produced on Raised or Flat Beds Following a Flooding Event Isaack Kikway Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses Part of the Plant Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Kikway, Isaack, "Evaluation of the Microbial Quality of Cantaloupe Fruit Produced on Raised or Flat Beds Following a Flooding Event" (2017). LSU Master's Theses. 4508. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/4508 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Master's Theses by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EVALUATION OF THE MICROBIAL QUALITY OF CANTALOUPE FRUIT PRODUCED ON RAISED OR FLAT BEDS FOLLOWING A FLOODING EVENT A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in The Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology by Isaack Kikway B.S., University of Eldoret-Kenya, 2013 May 2017 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There were a great number of people who helped make this thesis possible. I would first like to thank my advisor, Dr. Melanie Lewis Ivey for giving me the opportunity to call this project my own. I am forever grateful for her support and patience with me as I tested every possible limit.
    [Show full text]
  • Bacteria in Surface Waters.Pdf
    WD-BB-14 2019 Bacteria in Surface Waters What are Coliform Bacteria? Coliform bacteria are a large assemblage of various species of bacteria that are linked together because of the ease of culturing as a single group. They include both fecal and non-fecal coliform bacterial sources. Fecal coliforms are bacteria that are found naturally in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. Fecal coliforms are sometimes pathogenic, as many are disease-causing species, though non-pathogenic species may be present too. The presence of fecal coliform bacteria may indicate contamination of the waterbody by human and/or animal fecal material. What is Escherichia coli? Escherichia coli, commonly called E. coli, is one of the most common species of fecal coliform bacteria. It is a normal component of the large intestines in humans and other warm-blooded animals, and it’s found in human sewage in high numbers. E. coli is used as an indicator organism for fecal contamination because it is easily cultured. If sewage is present in water, pathogenic or disease-causing organisms may also be present. What are Enterococci? Enterococci are another type of fecal bacteria which are a subgroup of the fecal streptococcus group. Enterococci have the ability to survive in saltwater and therefore are the chosen indicator organism for coastal beaches and shellfish harvesting areas. Why do we measure bacteria? Typhoid and cholera epidemics in the mid-19th century led to the discovery that certain gastro-intestinal diseases of humans are transmitted via water. The disease-causing organisms leave the infected individual via the feces, which can become discharged into surface waters.
    [Show full text]
  • What to Do If Coliform Bacteria Is Present in a Well Water Sample • Don’T Panic
    What to do if Coliform Bacteria is Present In a Well Water Sample • Don’t panic. • Don’t rush into expensive repairs or water treatment. • Don’t drink the water without treating it until you find and fix the problem. Coliform is a large group with many different kinds of 4. The sample was contaminated in the bacteria. Most Coliform bacteria are harmless. collection process. Common problems include: Various types of Coliform live in the soil and even on (a) A hose, aerator screen, filter or other attachment on surfaces in your home, but they do not occur naturally the faucet. (b) Accidentally touching the inside of the in groundwater. If Coliform bacteria (sometimes lid or the top of the bottle. (c) Not running the water 3- reported as Total Coliform) are found in your well 5 minutes before collecting it. Carefully collect another water, it is an indication that disease-causing bacteria sample and retest. Use rubbing alcohol on a clean could get in the same way. paper towel to wipe the faucet before letting the water If any Coliform bacteria are found, the lab does a run for 3-5 minutes. second test to look for the special sub-group of 5. A movable faucet. Sometimes bacteria grow Coliform that live in the guts of mammals and birds. at the swivel point. This is not harmful, but still shows This test is for E. coli or Fecal Coliform. These up in the test. If the sample was from a movable faucet, bacteria indicate that your well water has come into do the test again using another faucet.
    [Show full text]
  • Drinking Water Is One of the Oldest and Most Critical Public Health Efforts
    WATER QUALITY PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE: Ensuring the quality and availability of drinking water is one of the oldest and most critical public health efforts. The bacterial quality of drinking water is the single most important water quality test as disease-causing organisms are a major health concern. One glass containing just a few microorganisms can cause illness in anyone ingesting the water. In contrast, contamination by chemicals such as petroleum by-products, or a naturally occurring element such as arsenic or radon, usually requires a long period of exposure to cause measurable health risks. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1986 and 1996 were designed to ensure safe drinking water for all Americans. States implement the program with technical and financial support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In New Hampshire, the Department of Environmental Services (DES) is the primary agent and lead agency for the SDWA. Populations at higher risk for adverse health effects from contaminated water include children, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons who are immunocompromised from infection with HIV, are undergoing chemotherapy, or have auto-immune illnesses. ROLE OF THE LOCAL HEALTH OFFICER: 1. Testing of water supplies (RSA 485:33): If a health officer suspects, or is made aware of, a public or private water supply that may be contaminated, they may be able to offer suggestions on having the water supply tested. 2. Public notice: When a public water system fails to submit required bacterial samples to DES, the owners are guilty of a violation of the program and must formally notify all consumers (“give public notice”).
    [Show full text]