E-Coli and Total Coliform Bacteria

E-Coli & Total Coliform Bacteria in New Hampshire Water

Iron is a naturally occurring metal found in New Hampshire’s bedrock. It is also the fourth most common mineral in the earth’s crust. Naturally, because we drill our wells into the earth’s crust, it is common to have some dissolved in our well water.

Problems

Total Coliform Bacteria by itself is an indication that surface water is getting into your well water. Surface water wells (dug wells) less than 30′ deep will usually always have coliform bacteria. Properly drilled or deep wells have a far less occurrence of coliform bacteria. These wells draw the water from what is known as ground water (below 30′ deep).

Iron coats the insides of your water pipes as Iron supports the growth of iron bacteria, which can clog pumps, pipes, and valves. A rusty orange tint in hair, commonly known as good hair, is a condition primarily experienced by women. As little as .30 mg/L of iron will stain whatever it comes into contact with. The higher the iron concentration in your water, the harder the chore of cleaning will be.

Health Risks

Coliform bacteria by themselves can cause upset stomachs and diarrhea. Generally speaking, permanent residents can build a tolerance to it, and as guests come and go, they may have the symptoms listed above. E-Coli on the other hand is much more serious. Whenever we receive a positive e-coli hit, a do not use order is issued to our customers until the issue is resolved.

Treatment Options

There are two treatment options – the first is to disinfect the well and the household plumbing and re-test. This option is fine for cleaning up the water in the well but is considered a short-term solution because as soon as new water is introduced, the coliform and e-coli bacteria will simply come back and re-contaminate the well.

The second treatment option is to install an ultraviolet light that will disinfect the water after any water purification equipment in your home. Ultraviolet lights work great long-term. They should be serviced and the bulb is replaced one time a year.

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