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State Water Resources Control Board <br /> Division of Water Quality <br /> GAMA Program <br /> OCCURRENCE <br /> Natural Sources Coliforms are a group of common bacteria that live in the soil, <br /> water, and in the digestive tracts of humans and animals. Most <br /> common coliforms are harmless, and are important components <br /> of the digestive system. <br /> Fecal coliform bacteria live specifically in the gut and feces of <br /> warm-blooded animals. Fecal coliforms are considered a more <br /> accurate indication of animal or human waste contamination <br /> than total coliforms. E. coli is a type of fecal coliform. It is <br /> considered the best indicator of fecal pollution and that <br /> additional pathogens may be present. Inadequate treatment of <br /> supply water, animal manure, and septic systems are major <br /> sources of coliforms in drinking water and groundwater. <br /> History Bacterial microbes and other food and water-borne pathogens <br /> can provoke severe illnesses. Incidents have resulted in <br /> serious widespread sickness, including some that were fatal. <br /> Recent outbreaks related to contamination of drinking water <br /> supplies in Ohio (2005) and Ontario, Canada (2004) resulted in <br /> the illness of 1,450 and 1,346 persons, respectively. The <br /> Ontario outbreak resulted in the death of seven people. <br /> The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that in the <br /> United States between 1991 and 2000, contaminated ground <br /> water resulted in 68 outbreaks and 10,926 illnesses. It is <br /> estimated that only 1 in 25 episodes of gastroenteritis <br /> associated with ingestion of contaminated water is actually <br /> reported, suggesting that the total number of illnesses is much <br /> higher. The CDC estimates that 900 to 1,000 people die each <br /> year as a result of microbial contamination of drinking water. <br /> Contaminant The presence of microorganisms in groundwater is heavily <br /> Transport dependent upon geologic conditions such as flow pathways and <br /> Characteristics mechanisms, sunlight, temperature, pH, and soil properties. <br /> The type, size, and activity of the microbial community are also <br /> important factors that influence the transport of microorganisms. <br /> Revised September, 2019 4 <br />