To confirm a well is safe after fecal coliform contamination, what should be done first?

Disinfecting the well is the first step to confirm its safety after fecal coliform contamination because the primary goal is to eliminate the source of contamination. Fecal coliform bacteria indicate the presence of harmful pathogens that can pose serious health risks. By disinfecting the well, you are actively addressing the contamination issue, which is essential before conducting any further testing.

Once the disinfection process is completed, it is standard practice to retest the water to ensure that the treatment was effective, but the initial response must focus on removing the harmful bacteria through disinfection. Contacting health authorities or closing the well could be important subsequent actions, but they do not directly address the immediate need to eliminate the contamination.