Fecal coliform bacteria is a serious concern. People commonly hear about a strain of bacteria called E. coli because it is an indicator of the presence of disease-causing bacteria. E. coli inhabits the digestive system of humans and animals but can also be found in sewage. Unfortunately, every so often, sanitary sewers have been incorrectly connected to storm drains, which then cause sewage to enter our waterways. During major storms, leaks and cracks occur that allow stormwater to flow into our sanitary sewer system that overwhelms the treatment plan causing sewage overflows. Correcting these problems is time-consuming and expensive, but together, our community works actively to restore them.