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Coliform organisms Elvire Jacques, MD Environmental health.

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Presentation on theme: "Coliform organisms Elvire Jacques, MD Environmental health."— Presentation transcript:

1 Coliform organisms Elvire Jacques, MD Environmental health

2 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) 1974 1974 EPA regulates contaminants which may be health risks and which may be present in public drinking water supplies. EPA regulates contaminants which may be health risks and which may be present in public drinking water supplies. Revisions 1986, 1996 Revisions 1986, 1996

3 Microbial indicator of fecal contamination Always found in warm-blooded animal feces Always found in warm-blooded animal feces Greater number than pathogens Greater number than pathogens Cannot multiply in water Cannot multiply in water Simple, reliable identification tests Simple, reliable identification tests Increased resistance to disinfectants Increased resistance to disinfectants Dutka, Jrnl Environmental Health 36:39-46,1973 Dutka, Jrnl Environmental Health 36:39-46,1973

4 Coliform organisms Gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals Gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals Harmless Harmless

5 Different species Different species Escherichia coli Escherichia coli Klebsiella species Klebsiella species Enterobacter species Enterobacter species Citrobacter species Citrobacter species Proteus species Proteus species Misc. Misc.

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7 EPA health goal Total coliforms = zero Total coliforms = zero

8 Legal limit on total coliforms Systems must not find coliforms in more than 5% of monthly samples to meet EPA's standards. Systems must not find coliforms in more than 5% of monthly samples to meet EPA's standards. If more, report violation to the state and the public If more, report violation to the state and the public

9 Contaminant MCLG (mg/L) MCL or TT (mg/L) Health effects Source Cryptosporidium0TT GI illness Human and animal feces Giardia0TT GI illness Human and animal feces Legionella0TT Legionnaire’s disease water Total coliform (fecal colif and E. coli 05% Presence may indicate other harmful bacteria Environment Fecal colif. and E. coli from human and animal feces Viruses (enteric) 0TT GI illness Soil runoff

10 The presence of coliform bacteria in tap water suggests that the treatment system is not working properly or that there is a problem in the pipes The presence of coliform bacteria in tap water suggests that the treatment system is not working properly or that there is a problem in the pipes

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12 Contamination, then what? Repair the disinfection/filtration equipment Repair the disinfection/filtration equipment Flush or upgrade the distribution system Flush or upgrade the distribution system Enact source water protection programs to prevent contamination. Enact source water protection programs to prevent contamination.

13 Total coliform positive Repeat samples within 24 hours Repeat samples within 24 hours Analyze for fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli) Analyze for fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli) Positive fecal coliform Positive fecal coliform MCL violation MCL violation State and public notification because of direct health risk. State and public notification because of direct health risk.

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16 Water Treatment Agents Water Treatment Agents Chlorine Chlorine Ozone Ozone Sun Sun Filtration systems Filtration systems

17 Ozone treatment

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19 Water treatment plant

20 Thank you


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