Presence of E.coli in water is an indicator of _______ contamination.

E. coli in water is a strong indicator of sewage or animal waste contamination. Sewage and animal waste can contain many types of disease-causing organisms.

Key Points

• Escherichia coli (abbreviated as E. coli) are bacteria found in the environment, foods, and intestines of people and animals.
• E. coli are a large and diverse group of bacteria.
• E. coli (Escherichia coli), is a type of bacteria that normally lives in the intestines. It’s also found in the gut of some animals.
• Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, some can make us sick.
• Some kinds of E. coli can cause diarrhoea, while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia, and other illnesses.
• Some versions of E. coli make us sick by making a toxin called Shiga. This toxin damages the lining of the intestine.

Additional Information

• Pesticides are substances that are meant to control pests.
• Herbicides also commonly known as weedkillers, are substances used to control unwanted plants.