EPA regulated bacteria/viruses in drinking water and health risks:
• Coliforms are bacteria naturally present in the environment and used as indicators that other possibly harmful bacteria may be present.
• Fecal indicators, Enterococci or coliphage, are microbes that can indicate human or animal wastes in water; they can cause short-term health effects, including cramps, nausea, diarrhea, headaches and more, and may pose a greater risk for people with severely weakened immune systems, elderly, young children and infants.
• E. coli and fecal coliform are bacteria whose presence can indicate water contaminated by human or animal wastes, causing short-term health effects, including cramps, nausea, diarrhea, headaches and more; they may also pose a greater risk for people with severely weak immune systems, elderly, young children and infants.
Popular bacteria/virus treatment technology
• UV technology: Proved beneficial for many years, and is still continuously rising in popularity for water treatment. UV light’s produced when an electric arc is struck in mercury.
• Ozone: Is an effective water treatment commonly used to reduce color, taste and odor concerns. Ozone is also used in place of, or to reduce chlorine.
• Chlorine: Is typically an effective treatment for bacteria/viruses, but not for protozoa, especially when applied to clarified low turbidity water.
• Chloramine: Is a reaction product of chlorine and ammonia and is less potent than chlorine; it’s known to successfully reduce Legionella counts.
