What type of bacteria is often monitored in water systems for contamination?

Coliform bacteria are an important indicator used in water quality monitoring because they are commonly found in the environment, particularly in soil, vegetation, and the intestines of warm-blooded animals. Their presence in water suggests potential contamination with fecal matter, which may contain harmful pathogens that could pose health risks to humans. Monitoring for coliform bacteria is a standard practice in assessing the safety of drinking water and is often required by regulatory agencies to ensure public health.

While pathogenic bacteria can be harmful, they are not routinely monitored because of the difficulty in detecting them directly and because their presence is less indicative of overall water quality than coliforms. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are beneficial for soil health and agriculture but are not typically linked to water quality issues in the same way coliforms are. Slime bacteria, which can form biofilms, are also less relevant to the basic assessment of water safety as they do not provide direct information about fecal contamination or the potential presence of disease-causing organisms.