What are coliforms, and what is going on?
Coliform bacteria are generally harmless bacteria that are found in the gut of warm-blooded animals and aid in digestion. The presence of coliform bacteria indicates that the water in unsafe to drink, because pathogenic bacteria are also found in the intestines of animals and humans. This is why coliforms are called indicator organisms. Their presence or absence of coliforms in a water sample indicates whether or not the water is safe to drink.
