Guide to Bacteriological Sampling of Public Water Supplies

摘要

Under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), drinking water is tested for more than 80 different Contaminats. One of the most important tests done is the analysis for total coliform bacteria. All public water supply systems in the country are required to sample the water they provide and to test frequently for coliform bacteria. Certain types of bacteria can cause sickness or disease such as diarrhea, typhoid, dysentery, or cholera. Most diseases caused by bacteria in drinking water are not serious, but some can very severe or even fatal. As part of the joint Federal/State program to assure that the drinking water supplied by public water supply systems is free from disease-causing organism, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) have issued regulations requiring the frequent testing of drinking water for total and fecal coliform bacteria.