Spring Break
UConn's water tested for coliform bacteria
Laurel Stanley/Staff Writer
Issue date: 12/4/01 Section: News
Samples taken in October from the UConn water supply system have tested positive for total coliform bacteria and the university says fluctuating chlorine dosages in newly installed equipment are to blame.
According to Frank Labato, UConn's director of environmental health and safety, total coliform is an indicator bacteria that could signal the presence of other organisms in the water supply. However, repeat testing of UConn's water supply determined it was completely free of any bacteria.
The presence of the bacteria means that there is a problem with the water distribution system, Labato said. UConn recently installed new equipment that did not release adequate amounts of chlorine to keep the water sources bacteria free. At this point the problem with the equipment has been solved.
"The November tests have come back fine," said UConn's registered sanitaraian Michael Pascucilla. "There's no need to worry."
Generally total coliforms are not harmful to health and can appear randomly in public and private water supplies. The existence of the bacteria indicates the possibility that fecal and disease-causing bacteria may be lurking in the water supply.
"Total coliform is a non-pathogenic bacteria, meaning it's not harmful. But its presence indicates that other harmful organisms could be in the water," said Pam Scully of the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
The DPH analyzes water samples throughout the state at intervals during each month and the number of samples taken is determined by the size of the population served. Twenty-five samples are taken from the university every month, one from the Depot Campus and 24 from the main campus.
On Oct. 10 and Oct. 24, the university's Department of Environmental Health and Safety collected samples for analysis. Three of the 24 samples collected from the main campus tested positive for total coliform. The sample from the Depot Campus showed no signs of contamination.
According to Frank Labato, UConn's director of environmental health and safety, total coliform is an indicator bacteria that could signal the presence of other organisms in the water supply. However, repeat testing of UConn's water supply determined it was completely free of any bacteria.
The presence of the bacteria means that there is a problem with the water distribution system, Labato said. UConn recently installed new equipment that did not release adequate amounts of chlorine to keep the water sources bacteria free. At this point the problem with the equipment has been solved.
"The November tests have come back fine," said UConn's registered sanitaraian Michael Pascucilla. "There's no need to worry."
Generally total coliforms are not harmful to health and can appear randomly in public and private water supplies. The existence of the bacteria indicates the possibility that fecal and disease-causing bacteria may be lurking in the water supply.
"Total coliform is a non-pathogenic bacteria, meaning it's not harmful. But its presence indicates that other harmful organisms could be in the water," said Pam Scully of the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
The DPH analyzes water samples throughout the state at intervals during each month and the number of samples taken is determined by the size of the population served. Twenty-five samples are taken from the university every month, one from the Depot Campus and 24 from the main campus.
On Oct. 10 and Oct. 24, the university's Department of Environmental Health and Safety collected samples for analysis. Three of the 24 samples collected from the main campus tested positive for total coliform. The sample from the Depot Campus showed no signs of contamination.