Coliform Persistence in Highly Chlorinated Waters

This study demonstrates how coliform organisms might exist under hours of contact with one mg/l of chlorine or even greater concentrations. The investigation discovered a train of events whereby a Crustacea harboring coli forms, while passing through a spigot, becomes ruptured by the velocity of the water, and is almost immediately flushed into a sample bottle containing sodium thiosulphate. The chlorine is neutralized and the coliforms are distributed throughout the sample, resulting in illogical bacteriologic results.