The article provides a comprehensive review of waterborne bacterial diseases, focusing on cholera, typhoid fever, and bacillary dysentery. It discusses the biology and ecology of the causal agents, the characteristics and life cycles of these diseases in the environment, and the importance of pathogenic *Escherichia coli* strains and emerging pathogens in drinking water-transmitted diseases. The article also highlights the role of fecal indicator bacteria in microbiological water analysis, including the composition of human and animal feces, and the advantages and limitations of using these indicators. It emphasizes the need for routine basic microbiological analysis of drinking water to ensure safe water for all, with a focus on the detection of *Escherichia coli* and the potential use of enterococci and ammonia for preliminary screening. The article concludes by discussing the challenges of ensuring safe drinking water and the importance of understanding the ecology and behavior of human and animal fecal bacteria in environmental waters.The article provides a comprehensive review of waterborne bacterial diseases, focusing on cholera, typhoid fever, and bacillary dysentery. It discusses the biology and ecology of the causal agents, the characteristics and life cycles of these diseases in the environment, and the importance of pathogenic *Escherichia coli* strains and emerging pathogens in drinking water-transmitted diseases. The article also highlights the role of fecal indicator bacteria in microbiological water analysis, including the composition of human and animal feces, and the advantages and limitations of using these indicators. It emphasizes the need for routine basic microbiological analysis of drinking water to ensure safe water for all, with a focus on the detection of *Escherichia coli* and the potential use of enterococci and ammonia for preliminary screening. The article concludes by discussing the challenges of ensuring safe drinking water and the importance of understanding the ecology and behavior of human and animal fecal bacteria in environmental waters.