Some may question: Is coliform bacteria not a specific key indicator for the online monitoring of medical wastewater? Does it also exist in drinking water? Is it identical to that found in medical wastewater? And what exactly is coliform bacteria in drinking water?
In reality, coliform bacteria is also a critical indicator for drinking water monitoring. To safeguard the hygiene and safety of drinking water, this has been explicitly stipulated in relevant national standards of China. Here, we provide a brief overview of coliform bacteria in drinking water. In fact, the coliform bacteria in drinking water is the same as that in medical wastewater—it refers to a group of Gram-negative, non-spore-forming bacilli capable of fermenting lactose and producing gas. It is not a single bacterial species but a group of bacteria sharing common characteristics.
Natural water bodies harbor a vast array of microorganisms. While testing is required to determine the presence of pathogenic microorganisms, this process becomes challenging due to the sheer diversity of microbial species. It is well-established that large quantities of coliform bacteria reside in the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals. If drinking water is contaminated by feces, coliform bacteria can be readily detected in the water. Furthermore, their resistance to disinfectants is comparable to that of other pathogenic bacteria, meaning the elimination of coliform bacteria typically coincides with the eradication of other pathogens. Given these shared traits among pathogenic organisms, coliform bacteria is selected as a key indicator of pathogenic microorganisms. By testing for coliform bacteria, the contamination status of drinking water can be assessed. A common instrument for this purpose is the WECT-900 Online Coliform Bacteria Analyzer, which employs the enzyme substrate method for real-time monitoring of coliform bacteria in water.
What Harm Arises from Untreated Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water?
The severity of harm primarily depends on the degree of contamination, which directly reflects the level of risk posed to human health.
