While it is true that coliforms generally do not cause disease (with the exception of certain strains of E. coli), their presence in drinking water indicates that the water is likely contaminated with fecal pollution. Intestinal pathogens, such as Salmonella, Shigella, and many viruses are passed in feces and therefore might be present in the water. Rather than trying to detect each and every intestinal pathogen, regulatory agencies look for organisms that are commonly found in feces and are easy to detect.