207-594-4947 or 800-244-4947

info@haskellwater.com

46 Farwell Dr, Rockland, ME 04841

Water Contaminants

Bacteria

Treating Well Water with Total Coliform Bacteria or E. coli

Ninety-eight percent of towns with public water systems chlorinate the water because any water supply, well water included, can become contaminated with bacteria. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends testing yearly for Bacteria through a State Certified Laboratory (Click here for a recommended State Certified Laboratory). Typically, results are known within 3 to 5 days, and we highly recommend you always chose to get a “count” (not results with just absent/present).

On the water test report, there will be two results listed: Coliform Bacteria and E. coli (or Escherichia Coli).

Escherichia coli (abbreviated as E. coli) are bacteria found in the environment, foods, and intestines of people and animals. E. coli is a large and diverse group of bacteria. Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can make you sick. Some kinds of E. coli can cause diarrhea, while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia, and other illnesses.

E. coli bacteria.

The most basic test for bacterial contamination of a water supply is the test for total coliform bacteria. Total coliform counts give a general indication of the sanitary condition of a water supply.

  1. Total coliforms include bacteria that are found in the soil, in water that has been influenced by surface water, and in human or animal waste.
  2. Fecal coliforms are the group of the total coliforms that are present specifically in the gut and feces of warm-blooded animals. Because the origins of fecal coliforms are more specific than the origins of the more general total coliform group of bacteria, fecal coliforms are considered a more accurate indication of animal or human waste than the total coliforms.
  3. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the major species in the fecal coliform group. Of the five general groups of bacteria that comprise the total coliforms, only E. coli is generally not found growing and reproducing in the environment. Consequently, E. coli is the species of coliform bacteria that is the best indicator of fecal pollution and the possible presence of pathogens.

The Safe Drinking Water Act requires that both results are no greater than 0.

If your well water has been contaminated with coliform bacteria or E. coli, it is important to stop drinking your water and to chlorinate your well. You may do this yourself or Haskell’s Water Treatment can do it for you. Once all the chlorine is out of the well, then you can retest the water. Chlorinating may not remove all of the coliform bacteria and E. coli or it may return later, and if this is the case, a Ultra Violet light would need to be installed to make your water safe for drinking. For directions on how to chlorinate your well, please click here.

Course listing

Ultraviolet Light (UV light)

By installing an ultraviolet light (UV light), you are ensuring that 99.99% of the bacteria and E. coli is removed without the use of chemicals.

You cannot see, smell or taste bacteria, but the UV light has a visual and audible alarm that will activate if the unit is not functioning properly. This will alert members of your household that the water may not be safe to drink. The UV light bulb will need to be changed once every 365 days, a green light on the black box will indicate the system is working and this same black box will count back—beginning at 365 days from the day it was installed.

When approximately 30 days are remaining, the black UV light control box will be amber and then turn red when 10 days are left. When the red light is on, a visual and audible alarm will sound once every day until the bulb is changed.

Water that travels through the UV Light needs to be of certain quality for the unit to function properly. Therefore, it may be recommended to pretreat your water to keep all water treatment systems working properly.