www.EmploymentCrossing.com The city of Downey, California has discovered total coliform bacteria in its water supply. Officials are warning citizens to boil tap water before consuming it. The bacteria were discovered by the city’s weekly water quality testing program. Citizens of the Southern California city of 107,000 are being instructed to boil water for one minute before use, or to use bottled water. The water is safe for showering or bathing. People without gas or electricity can use eight drops of bleach per gallon of water. They can also purchase water purification tablets. Coliforms are abundant in the feces of warm-blooded animals. In most instances, coliforms themselves are not the cause of sickness, but their presence is used to indicate that other pathogenic organisms of fecal origin may be present. Fecal pathogens include bacteria, viruses, protozoa or parasites
