Wenham Boil Water Order Will Last into Saturday

The will last through at least Saturday after E. coli was detected in water that was tested on Wednesday, according to Water Superintendent Erik Mansfield.

Some of the tests conducted on Wednesday still indicated a presence of E. coli in the Wenham water supply, he said. The state Department of Environmental Protection before it will give the OK for the boil water order to be lifted.

“We’re going to be continuing it into Saturday,” Mansfield said late Thursday afternoon.

The boil water order was put in place at 3 p.m. on Tuesday after E. coli was found in the public water supply, which services about 1,100 homes and businesses in Wenham. Water users are for at least a minute before use or to use bottled water.

An electronic sign with updates about the boil water order is set up next to the on Route 1A. The town government is also to send update via phone, e-mail and text message to residents and businesses.

And the cause of the E. coli contamination remains unknown. It may never been know but mostly likely came from the feces of an animal near the town wells.

“It could have been a burrowing animal that died outside in the well field,” he said.

Some hydrants in the town continue to run to move chlorine through the system, Mansfield said.