How harmful is bacteria?
We consider the presence of any bacteria in your water to be harmful. The most dangerous forms of bacteria are fecal coliform better known as E. coli. The presence of fecal coliform bacteria is a sure sign that your water has been contaminated with fecal material from humans or animals. The source water may be contaminated by pathogens, disease producing bacteria, or viruses which can also exist in fecal material. Some waterborne pathogenic diseases include typhoid fever, viral and bacterial gastroenteritis, and hepatitis A. Here’s a quote from the EPA: Infection often causes severe bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps; sometimes the infection causes non-bloody diarrhea. Frequently, no fever is present. It should be noted that these symptoms are common to a variety of diseases, and may be caused by sources other than contaminated drinking water. In some people, particularly children under 5 years of age and the elderly, the infection can also cause a complication called hemolytic uremi
