How does E. coli get into drinking water?
A. E. coli is not naturally found in groundwater. Therefore, in order for it to be present in a drinking water sample, it must have been introduced through a defect in the water system itself. For example, a hole in a storage tank can allow a rodent to gain entry. If the animal falls into the stored water, it will not be able to escape, and will eventually drown. The remains of the rodent will begin to decompose and expose the E. coli in its digestive tract to the water, thus contaminating the system. 95% of the drinking water in Monterey County comes from groundwater sources. Some water systems have a surface water source (for example, a creek or river) that supplies the drinking water. Other systems have shallow wells or springs that may be vulnerable to surface water influence. E. coli (and other potentially harmful organisms) can be introduced at any point along the waterway, since it is completely exposed to the surrounding environment. Only 5% of the drinking water in Monterey Co
