COLIFORM

Known as: COLIFORM

About: Gram Negative Bacteria

Microscope: Rod shaped, non spore forming.

What can it do: Fecal Coliform are not specifically disease causing bacteria, but they can indicate that water is not clean and that other disease forming bacteria can be present. Fecal coliform are a sub group of bacteria which can be harmless called Total Coliform and are found in very large quantities in the the faeces of animals and people.  Every time you pass a stool, large quantities of Fecal coliform will leave your body and be washed away when you flush the toilet. If the water and stool you flush away is not cleaned and treated properly, there is a chance that the bacteria which is normally helpful in humans, breaking down food in the intestines, can leak into the water supply. If Fecal coliform is found when water is tested, it shows that there is a strong likelihood that other germs could be present in the water that make you ill. Fecal coliform Diseases and illnesses that can be contracted in water with high fecal coliform counts include typhoid fever, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, e-coli, dysentery and ear infections.

Help: Treatment of illnesses associated with finding fecal coliform are varied depending on which illness has been contracted one common problem linked with finding fecal coliform in the water supply is e-coli, so check our e-coli page for more information.

Infectious rating: Not infectious

I feel sick: Alone fecal coliform won't necessarily make you sick but the other germs hidden in dirty water most definitely can and fecal coliform can be a sign that the water you are using is not clean and therefore you need to be careful.

GEOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS

Found in the UK and around the world. Lives in the intestines of people and animals everywhere.