Coliform bacteria are most commonly used as microbiological indicators of drinking water quality. Given their faecal origin, once introduced into the environment, they can pose a risk to human health. The aim of this study was to determine water quality by determining the presence of total heterotrophic and total and fecal coliform bacteria in four selected springs in the Papuk area: Jankovac, Kokočak (Vučenović), Žervanjska and Muška voda. In order to simulate the contamination of spring water and sediment with fecal material, microcosms were used. They were previously inoculated with a laboratory-pure culture of coliform bacteria. In the same manner, microcosms were used in order to determine the persistence of inoculated coliforms. The results of the research showed that, given the increased number of total heterotrophic and total and fecal coliform bacteria, water from sampled springs is not suitable for drinking. On the other hand, inoculated coliforms successfully persisted in all spring water samples except in the water from the spring Jankovac. Therefore, it can be concluded that Jankovac has, with the established low ability of bacteria from this spring to form a biofilm, the lowest possibility of coliform persistence in case of pollution of the spring. Also, given that these results provide only a part of the insight into the quality of spring water, it is necessary to carry out additional analyses, with continuous monitoring of microbiological parameters.