What bacteria grow in stagnant water?

Author: Rowan Simonis  |  Last update: Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Stagnant or standing water in a plumbing system can increase risk for growth and spread of Legionella and other biofilm-associated bacteria.

What bacterial problem is associated with stagnant water?

You can get Legionnaires' disease if you breathe in tiny droplets of water containing bacteria that cause the infection. It's usually caught in places like hotels, hospitals or offices where the bacteria have got into the water supply.

What bacteria grow in dirty water?

Bacteria
  • Coliform Bacteria. Coliform bacteria is a group of bacteria that is naturally found in soil, plants and the digestive tracts of people and animals. ...
  • Heterotrophic Bacteria. Heterotrophic bacteria are generally found in all water supplies. ...
  • Adenovirus. ...
  • Hepatitis. ...
  • Norovirus. ...
  • Rotavirus. ...
  • Cryptosporidium. ...
  • Giardia.

What organisms are found in stagnant water?

Many researchers found that gram-negative bacteria constituted the most genera bacteria isolated from stagnant water. The results of this study also indicated that gram-negative E. coli bacteria constituted the majority of bacteria in the lake water.

What diseases can you get from stagnant water?

Some common water-related illnesses are diarrhea, giardiasis, dysentery, typhoid fever, E. Coli infection, and salmonellosis. Adverse health effects can include pain in the gastrointestinal, reproductive, neurological systems, and other symptoms. Continuous exposure can have long-lasting health impacts.

The Effect of Water Stagnation on Bacterial Growth

What are the first signs of Legionnaires' disease?

Legionnaires' disease, the pneumonic form, has an incubation period of 2 to 10 days (but up to 16 days has been recorded in some outbreaks). Initially, symptoms are fever, loss of appetite, headache, malaise and lethargy. Some patients may also have muscle pain, diarrhoea and confusion.

Which disease can be spread due to stagnant water?

Stagnant water becomes a happy home for various parasites, bacteria, and fungi. These waterborne germs can cause life-threatening diseases like cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. These dangerous diseases may infect individuals who drink or accidentally come in contact with contaminated stagnant water.

What bacteria grows in stagnant water?

Stagnant water conditions typically result in biofilm formation, which can harbor and grow dangerous waterborne pathogens, such as legionella. In turn, there's a higher probability that standing water contains dangerous waterborne pathogens, such as legionella.

What are the symptoms of water bacteria?

Stomach cramps. Fever. Skin, ear, or eye problems. Cough and or shortness of breath.

Can anything grow in stagnant water?

In stagnant water, plants like water hyacinths, duckweed, and algae commonly grow because they thrive in low-oxygen environments. Bacteria and fungi also flourish, breaking down organic material.

What illness can you get from dirty water?

Contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio. Absent, inadequate, or inappropriately managed water and sanitation services expose individuals to preventable health risks.

What do E. coli bacteria look like?

The bacterium Escherichia coli is rod-shaped, and a unit cell keeps regular dimensions of about 1.5 µm long and 0.5 µm wide. The rod-shaped cell is composed of two parts: a cylinder in the center and caps at both ends. The length of the cylinder corresponds to the length of the rod cell.

What is the common bacterial contamination in water?

The presence of coliform bacteria, specifically E. coli (a type of coliform bacteria), in drinking water suggests the water may contain pathogens that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, nausea, headaches, fever, fatigue, and even death sometimes.

How to flush out legionella?

Whenever a property is to be left unused for a time, weekly flushing is a good way to reduce the chances of any problems cropping up. It is easy to do and requires only a small amount of time. Each tap and water outlet (including showers) should be opened and left to run through for at least five minutes.

How long does it take for legionella to grow in stagnant water?

How quickly legionella grows in pipes depends on the conditions, but in some instances, it can multiply to the extent that it becomes an issue within just two weeks. Often it can take longer, but once it takes hold, it can be difficult to get under control.

How long before water becomes stagnant?

How Long Does It Take Water to Become Stagnant? Standing water can become stagnant after 24 hours. It becomes the perfect environment for bacterial growth in the hours and days after.

Can stagnant water make you sick?

Stagnant water isn't just a minor annoyance; it can harm your health and property! Whether it accumulates in puddles, ponds, or neglected containers, the water provides an ideal breeding ground for harmful microorganisms, such as mosquitoes and waterborne pathogens, which can spread diseases.

How do you tell if you have leptospirosis?

In people, leptospirosis can cause a wide range of symptoms, including:
  1. Fever.
  2. Headache.
  3. Chills.
  4. Body or muscle aches.
  5. Vomiting or nausea.
  6. Yellowed skin and eyes (jaundice)
  7. Red eyes.
  8. Stomach pain.

What kills E. coli in the body?

Some antibiotics providers use to treat E. coli infections include: Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX). Ciprofloxacin.

What is the common bacterial problem associated with stagnant water?

Most people catch Legionnaires' disease by inhaling the bacteria from water or soil. Older adults, smokers and people with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to Legionnaires' disease. The legionella bacterium also causes Pontiac fever, a milder illness resembling the flu.

What happens if you swim in stagnant water?

Bacteria, amoebae, parasites and other naturally occurring microorganisms can cause diarrhea; skin, eye and ear infections; respiratory infections; neurologic infections; wound infections and other illnesses. Illness may range from mild to severe and even life-threatening.

How do you tell if you have Legionnaires' disease?

Legionnaires' disease is a serious type of pneumonia you get when Legionella bacteria infect your lungs. Symptoms include high fever, cough, diarrhea and confusion. You can get Legionnaires' disease from water or cooling systems in large buildings, like hospitals or hotels.

What grows in stagnant water?

Life that may thrive in stagnant water
  • Denitrifying bacteria.
  • Leptospira.
  • Purple bacteria (both sulfur and non-sulfur)
  • Brain-eating amoeba.

Which of the following diseases is caused by stagnant water?

Malaria may be caused by stagnant water. Water pollution can often lead to increased breeding of mosquitoes that carry parasites.

What parasites are in stagnant water?

Unfiltered drinking water from ponds or other stagnant surface water sources can contain near-microscopic crustaceans called copepods (tiny "water fleas") that are infected with Guinea worm larvae (immature forms of the Guinea worm).

Previous article
How to get rid of grey sludge in a washing machine?
Next article
How do I know if there is water under my floor?