Published Paper Details:

Better public health depends on regular monitoring of water quality as faecal contamination is a serious problem due to the potential for contracting disease. Bacterial contamination in water is measured using indicator organisms, notably Escherichia coli which is used as primary indicators of contamination in fresh and marine water quality, respectively, rather than the total coliforms present. Monitoring the microbiological quality of drinking water relies largely on examination of indicator bacteria such as coliforms, Escherichia coli. E. coli is a member of the faecal coliform group and is a more specific indicator of faecal pollution than other faecal coliforms. Two key factors have led to the trend toward the use of E. coli as the preferred indicator for the detection of faecal contamination, not only in drinking water. The faecal coliform definition has also been revised to coincide better with the genetic make-up of its members and now includes newly identified environmental species. Public health protection requires an indicator of fecal pollution. It is not necessary to analyze drinking water for all pathogens.