Which statement about fecal coliform is not true?

Fecal coliforms are a group of bacteria, with E. coli being the most well-known species, and they are primarily associated with the intestines of warm-blooded animals. Their presence in water is often used as an indicator of microbiological contamination from fecal sources.

The statement that fecal coliforms are typically found in soil is not true because fecal coliforms are more commonly related to fecal contamination and are usually detected in water environments, such as rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water that may be influenced by animal or human waste. While some bacteria from this group can be found in soil, it is not their primary habitat, and their presence in soil does not serve as a reliable indicator for assessing water quality in the context of fecal pollution.

The other statements are accurate. Fecal coliforms indeed include bacteria like E. coli (the first statement), they are classified as Gram-negative (the second statement), and their presence in water can indicate the likelihood of pathogens being present (the fourth statement), aligning with their role as indicators of fecal contamination.