Do fecal-coliform bacteria affect my drinking water?
Water suppliers routinely test their raw water for high levels of fecal-coliform bacteria and take numerous steps including filtration and chlorination to insure that the water which leaves treatment plants are free of all microorganisms, however, several large outbreaks of waterborne diseases have resulted when faulty equipment allowed contaminated water to enter the public drinking supply. How often are readings dangerous? The USEPA has estimated that fecal-coliform bacteria concentrations of 200 bacteria per 100 mL would cause 8 illnesses per 1,000 swimmers at fresh water beaches and 19 illnesses per 1,000 swimmers at marine beaches. Paddlers, anglers, and waders are probably at even a smaller risk since they probably come in contact with water less than swimmers. The 200 colonies per 100 mL limit is routinely exceed in many metro-Atlanta streams and sometimes exceeded in reaches of the Chattahoochee River. Exceedences in the Chattahoochee River generally occur more frequently in th
