E.coli Found in Stoughton Water

From the Town of Stoughton:

We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants to ensure the safety of the water supply.

On Jan. 5, 2017, our water system was notified that a raw water sample collected on January 4, 2017 from our Muddy Pond Well (05G) tested positive for E.coli, which is a fecal indicator. Fecal indicators are used to detect ground water sources that may be susceptible to fecal contamination which may contain harmful viruses or bacteria.

The water delivered to your taps through the distribution system is disinfected with chlorine to kill viruses and bacteria, including E.coli. It is important to note that samples collected on January 4, 2017 in the distribution system did not detect any fecal contaminants. The finished water collected from the Muddy Pond Station and all 15 distribution samples that were taken were “clear”. This was a raw water hit only. This source is one of seven active wells that supplies drinking water to our system. In accordance with the federal Ground Water Rule (GWR) requirements, we are notifying you of the situation and conducting additional sampling to evaluate the extent of potential fecal contamination and will take further actions as necessary.

This is not an emergency, you do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions at this time.

The USEPA requires us to provide you with this notice and the following information on fecal indicators:

“Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.” These symptoms can also be caused by issues unrelated to drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, or, if you have specific health concerns, you may want to discuss such concerns with your doctor. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or online.

We continue to maintain chlorine levels throughout our system and monitor for the presence of fecal contaminants in the sources and distribution system to ensure the safety of the water supply. We have taken this well off-line pending further investigation. We are currently resampling this raw water source for bacteria and will provide follow-up notification of results.

Our system is undergoing repeat testing and evaluation to determine if the current level of treatment is adequate or if additional corrective actions are necessary to reduce the risk of potential fecal contamination in our drinking water supply. Some consumers may notice a slight discoloration or odor/taste in the water, as the disinfection level of chlorine has been temporarily increased until the investigation is complete.

We are in contact with MassDEP during this process; they will evaluate the effectiveness of the steps taken and determine if any further action is required. If necessary, you will be notified again if you need to take any
corrective actions. This notice does not affect persons using private drinking water wells.

Image: File photo