Which organisms are used to assess the presence of pathogenic bacteria in water?

Coliform bacteria are widely recognized as key indicators used to assess the presence of pathogenic bacteria in water. They are a diverse group of bacteria found in the environment, as well as in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. Their presence in water is an indication of possible contamination by fecal matter, which can harbor harmful pathogens. Therefore, when coliform bacteria are detected in water sources, it raises concerns about the potential for waterborne diseases.

Testing for coliform bacteria, particularly fecal coliforms (which include E. coli), allows water quality professionals to evaluate the microbiological safety of water supplies. Since these bacteria are easier to culture and quantify compared to many pathogenic bacteria, they serve as a practical proxy for assessing water contamination and the possible presence of more harmful microorganisms.

While Salmonella bacteria, enteric viruses, and Pseudomonas group bacteria are also of concern in water testing, they do not serve the same role as coliforms in terms of rapid assessment and correlation with fecal contamination. This makes coliform bacteria particularly important in routine water quality monitoring and public health protection.