Water Quality Violations Attributed to Lab Error

Recently released water testing data from 2010 show that several tests of township wells for coliform bacteria came back positive last year, but officials say follow-up tests were negative for the pathogen and are attributing the initial results to laboratory errors.

This year’s Annual Drinking Water Quality Report, which contains test results from 2010 and was released recently to residents by mail (see PDF), shows five samples over the course of last summer for coliform bacteria were positive, a violation of drinking water standards.

Coliform bacteria are naturally occurring microbes that are often used as indicators of water quality. While not all coliforms have the potential to make people sick, the group does include bacteria that can cause illness.

The township tests for the bacteria several times a month, said township water superintendent Roger Budd. Last June, two positive routine tests for coliform raised a red flag. One positive test is allowed by regulators, but two is considered a violation.

“If you get a positive test, it’s an indicator it could be a problem,” Budd said. The second positive test meant a public notice was required. But, he said, “I found out through some of the other superintendents that I keep in touch with that several other towns using the same lab all had hits in June.”

As a result, when tests again indicated the presence of coliform in August, Budd took additional repeat samples to another lab. All the samples analyzed by the new lab were negative, he said.

Further tests after each violation for specific pathogens, including fecal coliform, were also negative, according to the water quality report.

Budd said that after discussing the issue with the Department of Environmental Protection, officials there agreed the problem was likely in the lab and not in the township’s wells.

Budd declined to release the name of the lab, but did say Barnegat has not used the company to test for bacteria in the water supply since last September. “A lot of towns still use them,” he said. “I understand they had a staff change over, and that may have contributed to it.”