What are Coliforms?

Coliform is a type of bacteria. Bacterias are single-celled organisms that are neither plants nor animals. They usually measure a few micrometers in length, they have a wide variety of shapes, ranging from:

  • Spheres
  • Sticks
  • Spirals

They exist together in communities of millions, one gram of soil typically contains about 40 million bacterial cells. A milliliter of fresh water usually contains about a million bacterial cells.

Some types of bacteria can cause diseases in humans, such as cholera, Diptheria, dysentery, bubonic plague, pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB), typhoid, and many more.

You can learn more about this type of microorganism here. In this post you are reading now, we are going to be more specific about this specific type of bacteria and how it can affect your water, and your health.

Coliform bacteria are defined as Rod-shaped Gram-negative non-spore forming and motile or non-motile bacteria that can ferment lactose.

Coliform Bacteria

Coliforms can be found in the aquatic environment, in soil, and on vegetation.

They are a commonly used indicator of sanitary quality of foods and water because they can be present in large numbers in the feces of warm-blooded animals.

They live in the digestive tracts of animals.

If coliform bacteria are present in your drinking water, your risk of contracting a water-borne illness is increased. Although total coliforms can come from sources other than fecal matter, a positive total coliform sample should be considered an indication of pollution 

Total Coliforms, Fecal Coliforms, and E. Coli

There are three groups of coliform bacteria. Each one is an indicator of drinking water quality and each has a different level of risk. 

  • Total coliform is a large collection of different kinds of bacteria.
  • Fecal coliform is a type of total coliform that exist in feces. 
  • E. coli is a subgroup of fecal coliform. 

Total coliform counts give a general indication of the sanitary condition of a water supply.

Total coliforms include bacteria that are found in the soil, in water that has been influenced by surface water and inhuman or animal waste.

Fecal coliforms are the group of the total coliforms that are considered to be present specifically in the gut and feces of warm-blooded animals. Because the origins of fecal coliforms are more specific than the origins of the more general total coliform group of bacteria, fecal coliforms are considered a more accurate indication of animal or human waste than the total coliforms.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the major species in the fecal coliform group. Of the five general groups of bacteria that comprise the total coliforms, only E. coli is generally not found growing and reproducing in the environment. Consequently, E. coli is considered to be the species of coliform bacteria that is the best indicator of fecal pollution and the possible presence of pathogens.

Are Coliform Bacteria Harmful?

Most coliform bacteria do not cause disease. However, some rare strains of E. coli can cause serious illness. Recent outbreaks of disease caused by E. coli have generated much public concern about this organism.

The contamination is most likely to show up during wet weather. 

E. coli has been found in cattle, chickens, pigs, and sheep and most of the reported human cases have been due to eating an undercooked hamburger. cases associated with contaminated drinking water supplies are rare.

What if E. coli is confirmed in my water?

Confirmation of E. coli in a water system indicates recent fecal contamination, which may pose an immediate health risk to anyone who consumes the water. 

  • The water system will issue a “health advisory” within 24 hours to alert all water users of a health risk associated with the water supply. 
  • The advisory usually recommends using boiled or bottled water for drinking, preparing food, and brushing teeth.

Okay, but this is a repairing measure, I mean, when you water already got infected with this bacteria and you and your family are already suffering the harming effects.

I don’t know about you, but this situation doesn’t work for me.  I will rather be safe than sorry, and that’s why I use Water Filters. We’ve separated some types of water filters that can banish this problem.

Can Water Filter remove bacteria?

Testing drinking water for all possible pathogens is complex, time-consuming, and expensive. 

It is easy and inexpensive to be protected from the infection in the first place. 

Some types of filters can indeed remove bacterias, they are: 

  • Reverse osmosis water filtration system 
  • Ultraviolet Radiation (UV) Water Filter 
  • Quantum Disinfection Filtration System 

What is a Reverse Osmosis Water Filter? 

Reverse osmosis, or hyperfiltration, is the finest filtration available. A reverse osmosis water filter utilizes extreme water pressure to force water molecules through super fine membranes that separate any contaminant or additives. 

What is Ultraviolet Radiation (UV), Water Filter? 

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is a disinfection method that uses short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) light to kill or inactivate microorganisms by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA, leaving them unable to perform vital cellular functions.

What is a Quantum Disinfection Filtration System? 

The DF is installed inline with the pipes like a UV water filter but does not require power to operate and does not require replacement bulbs. 

 It uses the Quantum Disinfection technology, that is a chemical-free, power-free, maintenance-free, and extremely cost-effective method for disinfecting water. It works as a final disinfection solution for all fluid applications on any scale. 

Now your problem is solved and all you need is to choose one for your home. Safety always comes first, and with the COVID-19 (Corona Virus) pandemic, it’s the best investment you can do for you and your family.

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