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How Does E. coli Contaminate Drinking Water and How Can You Avoid It?

You are here: Home / Blog / How Does E. coli Contaminate Drinking Water and How Can You Avoid It?

May 2, 2018 by EPA Water Consultants

How Does E. coli Contaminate Drinking Water and How Can You Avoid ItIt seems like every day there is a town somewhere in the  country that issues a boil-water alert due to E. coli contamination of tap  water. A quick Google search shows that just this month, E. coli outbreaks were discovered in tap water on both coasts  and in the Midwest.  Exposure to E. coli can cause some severe health effects, so it’s important to  do what you can to avoid the bacteria. Today we’re going to talk about what E.  coli is, how it gets into drinking water and what you can do to protect your  home’s tap water from E. coli contamination!

What is E. coli?

E. coli is a strain of coliform bacteria  that is found in the intestines of humans and animals. There are a number of  strains of coliform bacteria, some of which are harmless and others that can  severely affect our health. E. coli falls into the latter category, and it is  one of the leading causes of waterborne illnesses around the country. If E.  coli is present in drinking water, it is typically an indication that the water  is contaminated by sewage water or traces of animal waste.

How does E. coli get  into water?

As we mentioned above, the presence of E. coli in drinking  water typically indicates that the water was infected by either sewage waste or  animal feces. This can happen a few different ways:

  • Agricultural  storm runoff. When it rains in rural areas, storm water flows  over the ground and can come into contact with animal waste near farms. If  that waste contains E. coli, the bacteria can be carried over the ground and  into nearby water wells or other drinking  water supplies.
  • Sewage  overflows. When it rains excessively in urban areas, sewage systems can  temporarily overflow. The water from these systems can flow over streets and sidewalks  and end up flowing into drinking water supply lines or nearby lakes and rivers  that connect to sources of drinking water.
  • Broken  water mains. If a water  main breaks in a city, water that’s contaminated with E. coli can seep into  the cracks of the broken pipes and infiltrate the lines that serve tap water to  the public.

What are the health  effects of E. coli in drinking water?

The most common symptoms of exposure to E. coli are severe  diarrhea and abdominal cramping that can last  as long as 5-10 days. The bacteria poses an even bigger threat to elderly  people and young children, because it can damage their red blood cells and  cause kidney failures. Some strands of E. coli are worse than others, and the  most dangerous strands can be deadly for anyone who is exposed to them  regardless of his or her age.

How can you kill the  E. coli in your drinking water?

Since E. coli is a biological contaminant, the best way to  kill it is to install a UV  light water purification system. This type of water treatment system shines  ultraviolet lights directly onto your tap water supplies, which either kills E.  coli bacteria or renders them harmless. A UV light system will also kill any  other viruses, germs or bacteria in your home’s tap water, which will help keep  your family healthy and prevent  the spreading of illnesses throughout your home.

If you have any questions about E. coli in drinking water,  or if you’d like a water system serviced or installed in your home, contact EPA  Water, your water softener and water filtration  system dealer in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We provide service all over  Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including towns like Doylestown, Macungie and Malvern, PA.

photo credit: niaid via photopin (license)

Blog,  Water Contamination,  Water Quality

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