Boil Water Advisory Issued After E. coli Bacteria Found in West Baltimore Drinking Water
The Baltimore Sun reports that E. coli bacteria have been detected in some samples of the water supply in parts of West Baltimore.
According to city officials, thousands of residents in parts of the city and Baltimore County are under a boil water advisory. The boil water alert encompasses approximately 1,500 homes and facilities located in the Sandtown-Winchester and Harlem Park neighborhoods, reported The Baltimore Sun.
The city Department of Public Works first discovered the potential contamination at a test site in the Sandtown-Winchester and Harlem Park communities September 3rd.
The Baltimore Sun reported that some community members were unaware of the contamination until Sept. 5. So far, no one has reported illness from the contamination.
According to city officials, the source of the contamination is still unknown but under investigation, reported The Baltimore Sun.
However, officials do not believe the contamination is associated with wastewater treatment or its three water treatment plants. The plants test every two hours and have not produced unusual results recently.
The public works department is also surveying and sampling other locations within the impacted zone and retesting previously tested negative locations, reported The Baltimore Sun.
Construction projects are being investigated for potentially impacting the water system.
E. coli was found only in the area where the alert was issued, so DPW also extended a boil water advisory across a larger area just to be safe, and recent water samples from these areas were negative for E. coli and Total Coliform.
Additionally, the boil water advisory map shows the area extending into Linthicum Heights in Anne Arundel County. Matt Diehl, a representative for the county’s Department of Public Works, said in an email that it does not purchase water from the city, so no public water customer in the jurisdiction needed boil their water, reported The Baltimore Sun.
