Why should I test my CT well water for bacteria?
A positive coli-form bacteria test means possible contamination and a risk of waterborne disease. A positive test for total coli-forms always requires further testing for fecal coli-forms or E. coli bacteria. A confirmed positive test for fecal coli-forms or E. coli means your water is not safe for consumption and you need to take action to remedy it.
Because coli-forms and E. coli are easy to detect, their presence in water samples is used as an indicator of water quality in Connecticut and throughout the US. It can indicate more specifically, possible fecal contamination by humans or animals.
Coli-forms are not one kind of bacteria, but many, and they can make you sick if ingested from drinking water. Some strains of E. coli, the most common fecal coli-form bacteria (usually living in animal fecal material) may cause disease. Some E. coli strains found in food have been lethal.
Most strains of E. coli are harmless, but some can cause serious illness in humans, especially in small children, the elderly and individuals with compromised immune systems. Infection symptoms and signs include:
- diarrhea or bloody diarrhea
- stomach cramps
- vomiting
- fever
- pneumonia
- other respiratory illnesses
- urinary tract infections
Maximum Acceptable Concentration for Drinking Water in CT and nationwide = none detectable per 100 mL This means that in order to conform to the guideline: For every 100 mL of drinking water tested, there can be NO total coli-forms or E.coli bacteria detected.
As one of Connecticut’s, private well owners or well water consumers, you probably drink the water, use it for cooking, feeding your pets, doing your family’s laundry, bathing, watering your garden etc. Public municipalities are required to test their water supplies regularly to ensure the water is safe to drink.
Coli-form bacteria are always present in untreated wastes from humans and warm-blooded animals and therefore are used to indicate the potential presence of pathogens.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends private well owners test their wells for coli-form & E.coli bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH at least once a year, and more often under certain circumstances.
The purpose of the coli-form tests is to determine the sanitary status of your water. The testing requires the water first be tested for TC (total coli-form) bacteria, and if any TC bacteria are detected, that sample is further tested for the presence of either FC (fecal coli-form) or E. coli bacteria.
Most private wells provide a clean, safe supply of water, however, contaminants can pollute your well at any time, and unfortunately you cannot see, smell or taste most of them.
Consequently, testing your water quality on a regular basis is a good idea to ensure the health your you, your family and your pets.
Bacteria water services in Connecticut.
