Course: BFM 203 Water Treatment and Control

Lecture

Biological Charateristics

Biological Characteristics

Water for domestic use must be made free from pathogenic organisms including bacteria, protozoa, spores, viruses, cysts, and parasitic worms. Many pathogens in humans originate from the fecal discharges of infected animals. Unfortunately, specific pathogens in water are not easily isolated or identified. Coliform bacteria is used as an indicator organism because it is easily identified, is always present in fecal waste, and vastly outnumbers pathogens. Total and fecal coliform bacteria tests for drinking water are absence/presence tests. The Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulations developed from the Safe Drinking Water Act establish upper limits for coliform bacteria concentration.