Glossary · Health & indoor air
Total coliforms and E. coli
Also called: total coliforms · total coliform · coliform bacteria · coliforms · coliform · E. coli
Bacteria used as warning signs in well water: total coliforms point to surface contamination, and E. coli to contamination from sewage or manure.
What it means
Total coliforms are used as an indicator that germs could be getting into the well. E. coli comes from human or animal waste, so finding it means the water isn't safe to drink until the well is fixed, disinfected and retested. Results are reported per 100 mL of water.
Why it matters in an audit
A positive result means treating or disinfecting the well and retesting before relying on the water.
Typical numbers
Reference values with their sources. Your energy advisor’s report gives the figure for your own house.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health Canada safe result | None detected: no E. coli and no total coliforms in a 100 mL sample | canada.ca ↗ |