Fecal Coliform

Bacteria are tiny single celled organisms. A type of bacteria called coliform, is common in the intestines of both warm and cold blooded animals. Coliform bacteria help our bodies digest food. This coliform bacteria is released by the waste from these organisms. The wastes carry the bacteria with them where ever they happen to end up. Coliform bacteria are indicators of pathogenic bacteria. Pathogens are found in the waste. Large numbers of coliform bacteria mean that there is a presence of pathogens. These pathogens are hard to locate because there is usually a small presence of them. In addition, these pathogens can’t survive outside of a human or animal body. On the other hand, they can live long enough if they get into a water supply to infect humans and animals. Fecal coliform bacteria are a type of E.Coli bacteria that won’t get people sick because it is not pathogenic. When humans make contact with water that contains pathogenic bacteria they can suffer from ear infections, typhoid fever, dysentery and several other illnesses.

Testing For Fecal Coliform

The test for fecal coliform is a physical five day test. The samples must be incubated anywhere from 24-48 hours. Thus this test is taken days after the water sample was taken.

Fecal Coliform Levels and What They Mean

Since fecal coliform is a bacteria, it can reproduce quickly. Bacteria in general like to grow in dark, moist environments. When bacteria reproduce they create colonies. These colonies can grow and be seen. We can approximate how much fecal coliform bacteria is present at a water source by counting colonies. Below is a table that lists the number of colonies that need to be present in water for human consumption or activities.

Types of Water	Number of Fecal Coliform Colonies Present
Drinking Water	0 Colonies
Water Safe for Swimming	200 Colonies
Water Safe for Boating	1,000 Colonies
Treated Sewage Discharge	200 Colonies

Results

Our test showed us that there were 420 colonies per 100 mL of fecal coliform in the North Channel. Based on the table above this water is not safe to drink or swim in. This water is worse than treated sewage. The only thing that people can safely do in the North Channel based on its fecal coliform levels is boat in it.

Influences

There are several factors that contribute to fecal coliform. Bacteria survive in warm temperature. Thus when its cold outside they are less likely to be present in water. Fecal coliform gets into bodies of water from agricultural runoff, storm runoff, discharge of mammal waste and from untreated sewage. Fecal coliform in water is removed when water is boiled or treated with chemicals such as chlorine.
Humans contribute to fecal coliform’s presence in water if their septic tank overloads during rainy season. As a result untreated human waste flow into bodies of water. Animal waste is brought in bodies of water when it rains (runoff). People should not use fertilizer during rain season because this agricultural runoff goes into a close body of water. People just need to think before they act in order to preserve out water sources and to keep them clean.