What are waterborne pathogens?
Waterborne pathogens are disease-causing germs that live in water. Waterborne pathogens can be classified as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, algae, or multi-celled parasites. Refer to Summary of Waterborne Pathogens for more information on these organisms. Bacteria Bacteria are virtually everywhere. They are in the air, soil, water, and in and on plants, animals and people including us. Disease-causing species are a comparatively tiny fraction of the total bacteria. Certain bacteria are beneficial by producing antibiotics; others live symbiotically in the guts of animals (including humans), or on the roots of certain plants, converting nitrogen into a usable form. Bacteria put the tang in yogurt and the sour in sourdough bread; bacteria help to break down dead organic matter; bacteria make up the base of the food web in many environments. Fecal coliform and E. coli are two different indicators of the presence of bacteria from fecal sources. “Fecal coliforms” is the name of a large group o
