Final answer:
MCL and MCLG are related to water safety standards; MCLG is a non-enforceable goal indicating no health risk level, and MCL is an enforceable standard based on the best available technology. For fecal coliforms and E. coli, both MCL and MCLG are set at zero.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terms MCL and MCLG refer to standards related to the safety and quality of drinking water and have specific meanings within this context. The Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) is a standard that reflects the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health, and it serves as a non-enforceable public health goal that includes a margin of safety.
The Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) is the enforceable standard that defines the highest level of a contaminant that is permissible in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as possible, based on what is feasible using the best available treatment technology while also considering cost.
For fecal coliforms (FC) and Escherichia coli (EC), the MCL and MCLG are typically at zero, meaning that their presence in drinking water should be entirely avoided to protect public health.
For the specific question about FC/EC, it is important to note that FC and EC are abbreviations for Free Chlorine and Electrical Conductivity, respectively. These terms are related to water quality testing.