Total Coliform
EPA MCLG
0 %
EPA's health goal is zero — no known safe level of exposure. This is a goal, not an enforceable limit.
Health Effects
Not a health threat in itself; it is used to indicate whether other potentially harmful bacteria may be present
Source: EPA — National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (retrieved 2026-07-27)
On a private well?
This page covers Total Coliform in public water systems. Private wells are unregulated and not tested by anyone unless you arrange it.
Bacteria (coliform & E. coli) in private well water →Common Sources
- Coliforms are naturally present in the environment
- as well as feces
- fecal coliforms and E. coli only come from human and animal fecal waste
Is your Total Coliform result safe? Get a free reading
The EPA MCLG for Total Coliform is 0 %. Upload your water test (PDF or a photo) and we'll email a plain-English reading of where your result lands — and every other number — free. Educational only, no medical claims.
Your upload also helps us keep local water data accurate — we only ever share anonymized, area-level summaries.
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Water filters certified under the following NSF standards are effective at removing Total Coliform:
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Where is Total Coliform Found?
Total Coliform has been detected above EPA health guidelines in 1 cities serving 0.0M people across the US.
About the EPA MCLG
The EPA MCLG is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. It is a non-enforceable public health goal, and is often stricter than the legal limit (MCL) water systems must meet.
Contaminant Type
Total Coliform is classified as a Bacteria contaminant.
Related Bacteria Contaminants
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