Wednesday's E Coli Test Results Supposed To Be Available Thursday

NARRAGANSETT-SOUTH KINGSTOWN — The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) said Wednesday's E Coli test results will be made available Thursday afternoon.

E Coli testing began Wednesday for five public water systems which were contaminated last Friday. RIDOH cannot lift the boil water advisory until test results show no E Coli in the water for three days in a row.

"We have been working since the boil water advisory began to ensure that restaurants, schools, healthcare and long-term care facilities, other food service providers, and town officials all have the guidance they need to respond to the advisory," said RIDOH Director of Health Dr. Alexander-Scott. "Our Center for Drinking Water and Center for Food Protection staff were out in the communities throughout the holiday weekend conducting inspections and providing on-site assistance, as needed, and continue to be available to answer questions as they arise."

RIDOH is still looking for potential sources that may have caused the E Coli contamination and testing those sources with the public water systems.

"Using computer modeling, field inspection and sampling, the water systems and RIDOH are continuing to evaluate different potential sources of the issue,"Public Information officer Joseph Wendelken said in a press release. "Common causes of E. coli contamination include broken pipes and backflow into the water system."

According to RIDOH, the decontamination process involves using large amounts of chlorine. Chlorine at this level is not considered dangerous.

Wendelken said, "Larger drinking water systems use chlorine, even when there is no contamination issue, because chlorine disinfects and kill germs. The levels of chlorine in the five systems are being increased to further disinfect the pipes."

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