What is It?
-Coliform is a family of bacteria common in soils, plants and animals.
-Fecal coliform, is found in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals including humans.

Why is it in the environment?
-Indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes.

How does it affect water quality?
-Fecal coli form does not effect water quality, however it is an indicator for the potential of other disease causing bacteria to be present

How does it affect adults?
-Intestinal illnesses:
     Giardiasis
     Cryptosporidiosis

-Giardiasis has the following symptoms:
     diarrhea
     abdominal cramps
     pale and greasy stools
     fatigue
     bloating
     weight loss

-Cryptosporiosis has the following sympthoms:
     watery diarrhea
     headache
     stomach cramps
     nausea
     vomiting
     slight fever

-Diarrhea may last up to a week in duration.

-Symptoms usually appear around a week after infection and can last up to one week.

How does it affect children?
-These illnesses have an increased risk for infants and young children.

What are the EPA regulations?
-No more than 5.0% samples total coliform-positive in a month.
      -For water systems that collect fewer than 40 routine samples per      month, no more than one sample can be total coliform-positive per      month.

-Cryptosporidium: (as of1/1/02 for systems serving >10,000 and 1/14/05 for systems serving <10,000) 99% removal.

-Giardia lamblia: 99.9% removal/inactivation