Addressing Total Coliform Positive or E. coli Positive Sample Results in EPA Region 8

Follow-up to a Revised Total Coliform Rule Positive (or Present) Sample Result

What is a total coliform positive or present sample?

A water sample is present for total coliform or total coliform positive if coliform bacteria are found in the sample. Generally, coliforms are bacteria that are not harmful and are naturally present in the environment. They are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, fecal bacteria (indicated by the E. coli species) could be present. If any routine or repeat sample is total coliform positive or present, the system (i.e., the lab) must further analyze that sample to determine if E. coli are present. E. coli is a more specific indicator of fecal contamination and is a potentially more harmful pathogen than other bacteria typically found in the total coliform group. The presence of coliform bacteria in tap water suggests that there could be a problem with existing equipment or treatment systems, contamination of the source water or a breach in the distribution system that could introduce E. coli contamination.

What actions must be taken?

When a water system receives a total coliform positive or total coliform present sample result, within 24 hours the owner or operator of the system must collect a set of repeat total coliform samples in the distribution system for the Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR); additionally, all groundwater sources must be sampled for E. coli under the Ground Water Rule (GWR). The purposes of the Revised Total Coliform Rule repeat and Ground Water Rule source water samples are to confirm the presence of coliform bacteria in the system and to determine if the groundwater source or distribution system is contaminated with E. coli.

Anytime you have a sample test positive or present for E. coli (EC+), call EPA IMMEDIATELY at 303-312-6072 and ask to speak with the RTCR Manager. After normal business hours, please call EPA at 303-312-6327. Take three (3) REPEAT RTCR samples for each ROUTINE positive/present sample, as well as a GWR source sample(s) (if applicable). Jump down to the last section of this webpage for more information on EC+ follow-up actions.

Follow these 5 steps after a Total Coliform positive/present ROUTINE sample:

1. Do not shock chlorinate the system before collecting repeat, routine or source samples unless you have prior approval from EPA Region 8.
2. Review your sampling procedures to ensure you are sampling properly
   
   Avoid: Sampling at new faucets or newly repaired faucets, leaky faucets, outdoor faucets or those faucets connected to softeners, hot water heaters, or pressure tanks; setting down the bottle lid or exposing the inside of the lid or bottle to anything other than the sample water (do not rinse or remove powder); and rushing your sample collection.
   
   Do: Take your time; sanitize the sample tap and your hands (or use non-powdered latex gloves); flush the tap for 5 minutes before taking the sample; and minimize the time the sample bottle is open—open the bottle immediately prior to gathering your sample and replace the lid as soon as the sample is collected. Keep in mind that improper sampling can result in a TC positive sample that can lead to costly follow-up sampling. Also, carefully fill out chain of custody forms with your PWS ID# and sample location(s). Ensure that your total coliform rule samples are located within your distribution system according to your Sample Siting Plan and labeled appropriately, and that your Ground Water Rule source samples are collected at your source(s) before treatment and labeled appropriately.
3. Follow your RTCR Sample Siting Plan and the flowchart below to take your required Revised Total Coliform Rule Repeat samples:

   

   **If any of the following criteria are met, you must contact the RTCR Manager immediately at 303-312-6072, and a Level 2 Assessment must be completed by a party approved by EPA within 30 days:
    

   • You previously triggered a Level 1 Assessment within a rolling 12 month period;
   • You have any combination of TC+ and EC+ routine and repeat samples; or
   • If you failed to collect all required repeat samples after an EC+ routine sample result.

   
   Please use the RTCR Lab Sample Form along with your lab’s chain of custody form to indicate what type of RTCR sample you are collecting. RTCR Assessment forms, the Sample Siting Plan Template and additional RTCR information can be found on the EPA Region 8 - Revised Total Coliform Rule webpage.

   Follow the instructions below if you use a groundwater source (e.g., well) and are subject to the Ground Water Rule (GWR). Check your annual Monitoring and Reporting Requirements to verify if your water system is subject to the GWR.

   Within 24 hours of being notified of a routine RTCR TC+ or EC+ sample result, you must:
    
   • Sample all groundwater sources that were in use during the collection of the routine total coliform sample.
   • Collect the sample(s) at the groundwater source(s) prior to treatment.
   • Collect one source sample for every routine RTCR TC+ or EC+ sample (e.g., if you have three routine TC+ samples you will need to collect three source water samples from each groundwater source).
   • Indicate the correct Sample Point Code (e.g. GWR WL01) on the lab chain of custody form. The Sample Point Code may be found on your yearly Monitoring and Reporting Requirements document provided to all systems every year. If your groundwater sources combine before treatment you may take a combined source sample, but make sure to mark the sample location as “combined” and note the groundwater source Facility Codes that were combined (e.g. Combined WL01, WL02, and WL03).
   • A copy of the GWR Source Sampling Form may be found at the Drinking Water System Operations in Wyoming and on Tribal Lands in EPA R8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT and WY) website, by clicking on the “Reporting Forms” link under the picture and selecting the “Ground Water Rule” link.
   • The lab must analyze the sample for E. coli.
   • If the GWR source sample is E. coli negative or fecal coliform negative there is no further sampling requirement. If the source is TC+, you should inspect your well and the area around your well to try and find and fix the cause of the positive result but there is no further sampling requirement..
   • If any GWR source sample result is E. coli (EC+) positive:
     1. Call EPA immediately and speak with the current GWR Manager listed in the EPA Region 8 Drinking Water Program Contact List;
     2. Within 24 hours collect five additional GWR source samples from the same source that had the EC+. If you previously took a combined source sample you will need to sample all wells separately; and
     3. Provide Tier 1 public notice.
    

   Wholesale and Consecutive Systems:
   Wholesale systems using groundwater sources must meet all the above GWR sampling requirements when notified of a routine RTCR total coliform positive sample at a consecutive system, or within their own distribution system. If the GWR source sample is E. coli positive, the wholesaler must also notify all consecutive systems within 24 hours of being notified of the EC+ source sample result.

   Consecutive systems must notify their wholesale system within 24 hours of being notified of the routine RTCR total coliform positive sample result. If the consecutive system was utilizing any of their own groundwater sources at the time of the routine RTCR sample collection the consecutive’s groundwater sources must also be sampled to meet all the above GWR sampling requirements too.

4. Thoroughly inspect the water system
   Coliform bacteria in a water system are generally either a result of a failure to maintain a “closed” system and/or equipment failure. Visually inspect the system including wells, tanks, chlorinator, etc. Look for areas where soil, leaves, insects, animals, sewage or animal wastes could get into your system.
    

   Wyoming Systems:
   The Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems (WARWS) may be contacted at 307-436-8636 to help identify the cause of the positive sample results or assist with a Level 1 Assessment.

   Tribal Systems:
   Contact your local EPA office to request help with identifying the cause of the positive sample:
   MT - Emily Gillespie at 406-457-5009
   ND and SD - Andrea Griese at 605-945-1192
   CO, UT, and WY - Nate Delano at 303-312-6318

   SD Rural Water Systems (SDRWS) - Kurt Pfeifle at [email protected], 605-556-7219
   ND Rural Water Systems (NDRWS) - Eric Volk at [email protected], 701-391-5080

5. If you have an E. coli positive (EC+) Sample Result in the Distribution System:
   1. Call 303-312-6072 immediately and ask to speak with the RTCR Manager. If the emergency occurs after-hours or on the weekend, please call 303-312-6327.
   2. For the Revised Total Coliform Rule, take repeat samples within 24 hours in the distribution system, following your RTCR Sample Siting Plan. If you have any combination of TC+ or EC+ routine and repeat samples or if you failed to collect all required repeat samples following an EC+ routine sample, you have triggered an RTCR E. coli MCL violation. E. coli MCL violations require a Tier 1 public notice, including a boil water advisory. You must distribute the public notice to all residents and customers within 24 hours; see the Boil Water Advisory section below for more information. A Level 2 Assessment must also be completed by a party approved by EPA within 30 days.
   3. (As applicable) For the Ground Water Rule, collect groundwater source samples following your RTCR Sample Siting Plan. If any of the GWR source samples are EC+, you must collect 5 triggered source samples from the same source that had the EC+ within 24 hours and provide Tier 1 public notice including a boil water advisory, and distribute it to all residents and customers within 24 hours. See the Boil Water Advisory section below for more information
   4. Even if you can’t reach EPA by phone, you are required to take the previous steps (collect RTCR repeat samples and GWR source samples as applicable) and provide the Tier 1 public notice boil water advisories.

Boil Water Advisory

If the lab results for RTCR are any combination of TC+ and EC+ routine and repeat samples or if you failed to collect all required repeat samples following an EC+ routine sample, you must issue a boil water advisory. Boil water advisories instruct consumers to boil their water for at least three minutes before using it or else to use bottled water.

The approved Drinking Water E. coli MCL Violation Contamination Boil Advisory Template can be used for a RTCR E. Coli MCL violation.

Use the approved Ground Water Rule (GWR) Boil Water Advisory Public Notification Template for a GWR E. Coli positive source water sample.

Technical Tip

Much of this information can also be found in the EPA Region 8 Drinking Water Unit Tech Tips for WY & Tribal Systems: Follow-up to a Total Coliform Positive (TC+) or E. Coli (EC+) Sample.