Question

Escherichia coli is used as an indicator organism to determine pollution of water with?

• A. Faecal matter
• B. Heavy metals
• C. Industrial effluents
• D. Pollen of aquatic plants

Answer 1

The correct option is A Faecal matter

Escherichia coli is a member of the faecal coliform group and is a more specific indicator of faecal pollution than other faecal coliforms.

The number of coliform bacteria in water samples can be determined by the most probable number method, a test, which assumes cultivable bacteria meet certain growth and biochemical criteria. If tests suggest that coliform bacteria are present in numbers in excess of the Coliform Index, faecal contamination is suspected.

Option A is correct.