Pathogenic Escherichia coli is transmitted to humans via the fecal–oral route. This study assessed the safety of water sources

with respect to the presence of pathogenic E. coli in Jammu and Kashmir, a Union Territory in northern India. A total of 141 water samples were collected from natural sources (81 samples: 43 river, 28 pond, and 10 lake) and drinking water sources (60 samples: 40 municipal supplies and 20 wells). These samples were analyzed for E. coli isolation, and pathotyping for ETEC, EPEC, and EHEC was done using PCR. Of the 81 samples collected from natural water sources, 56 (27 rivers, 20 ponds, and 9 lakes) tested positive for E. coli. None of these 56 isolates were positive for ETEC or EPEC, while 03 river and 02 pond samples tested positive for EHEC. Among the 60 drinking water samples, 15 (13 from municipal supplies and 2 from wells) were positive for E. coli. None of these isolates were positive for ETEC, EPEC, or EHEC. E. coli is widely used as an indicator organism for fecal contamination. The findings of this study reveal the extent of contamination of different water sources and emphasize the need for improved water quality monitoring to protect public health.