What are E. coli bacteria?
Escherichia coli, a subgroup of fecal coliform bacteria, is present in the intestinal tracts and feces of warm-blooded animals. Like fecal, it is also used as an indicator of the potential presence of pathogens. There are many different strains of E. coli that are classified into more than 170 subgroups. Although most strains of E. coli are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, some strains produce a powerful toxin and can cause severe illness. Why are bacteria important? The key concern with elevated fecal coliform bacteria levels in waterways is their association with disease-causing bacteria. Their presence indicates that the water has been contaminated with the fecal material of man or other animals and could contain pathogens or disease producing bacteria or viruses that can also exist in fecal material. Some waterborne pathogenic diseases include viral and bacterial gastroenteritis, hepatitis A, typhoid, and cholera. The most common illness associated
