How Does Citrobacter Freundii Get Into Well Water?

Facts

• Citrobacter freundii are rod-shaped bacteria that naturally live in the intestines of humans and many animals, including pigs and other domesticated livestock. Normally, the bacteria does not pose a health problem to animals when it is at manageable levels. The bacterium is associated with meningitis infections, particularly in infants, urinary infections and other serious infections that tend to target those with weaker or compromised immune systems. In one case, a group of schoolchildren in Germany came down with severe cases of gastroenteritis and kidney failure after consuming parsley that was heavily contaminated with C. freundii. The bacteria multiplied to extreme levels in a garden that had been fertilized with infected pig manure. The extreme population was assumed to be a result of high early summer temperatures, which helped the heat-loving bacterium to flourish.

Contamination

• Unsealed water sources are susceptible to bacterial infection from C. freundii. Well water is an open, underground source of water that can potentially receive substances that drain from the ground, including fertilizers, feces, chemicals and other problematic substances. Water wells nearby grazing cattle or livestock land can potentially receive rain runoff with the bacteria, which could be picked up from the animal feces. Septic tanks may also be a source of contamination since they allow human feces to infiltrate the soil. Any soil that is contaminated with sewage, either from pet, wildlife or human feces, could potentially contain the bacterium.

Increased Levels

• C. freundii can reach extreme, unhealthy levels under certain conditions. It is considered a fecal coliform, a type of bacteria that can reproduce and grow rapidly at high temperatures of 112 Fahrenheit. High temperatures are often associated with large, fast-growing populations of the bacterium. The species is able to easily multiply and adapt to underwater reservoir environments. Shallow wells are especially susceptible to contamination from above-ground sources. Rainwater runoff may help spread the bacteria by spreading contaminated feces, so high levels of rainfall are often associated with higher levels of bacterial contaminants in well water.

Preventing Contamination

• Deep, sealed water wells are less susceptible to the bacteria. Test wells that are located adjacent to farmland, which are prone to contamination from bacteria and fertilizers. During warm periods, use chlorination to prevent microbes from growing. Monitor water wells twice a year to learn whether contaminants may be present and to avoid any risk of disease.