Advances in the bacteriology of the Coliform Group: Their suitability as markers of microbial water safety

Advances in the elaboration of novel genomic types of beta -galactosidase-p ositive Enterobacteriaceae and comprehensive studies of their habitats have resulted in an innovative approach to the assessment of the merits and sho rtcomings of the thermotrophic and fecal species Escherichia coli and all o ther coliforms as markers of the microbiological safety of water. As one of the consequences, it is recommended to abolish the "technical" designation fecal coliforms because their current method of detection will result in t he isolation of thermotrophic organisms that have been demonstrated, beyond a doubt, to be of environmental, rather than uniquely enteric origin. Addi tional population studies have demonstrated that none of the coliforms can function as reliable markers for all enteric pathogens (index organisms sen su Ingram), nor be of use in validating adequate processing for safety of r aw water, which represents the indicator function of markers, as defined by Ingram. Future studies along these lines will have to provide the data req uired to assess the suitability of additional markers for the reliable moni toring of drinking water for microbiological safety.