Quick ID for water pathogens
Wednesday, October 30, 2013 - 07:00
in Health & Medicine
Drinking water flowing from your tap can contain harmful bacteria, viruses and single-cell animals. And most countries do not routinely test for all these bugs. Instead, scientists usually take a water sample and then place it in a growth dish suitable for so-called indicator gut bacteria such as E. coli. These bacteria do not cause illness, but if they are present then water has been contaminated with sewage.