COLESBURG
RESIDENTS URGED TO DRINK BOTTLED WATER
COLESBURG -
The main well for the city of Colesburg in Delaware County was knocked out by
lightning on Saturday prompting an advisory that residents drink bottled water
until a repair can be made and the water can be adequately tested for
safety. Repairs will take at least another day.
The city will
be switching to an emergency well to supply water and pressure to the town,
however the water quality has not been tested in this well. There may be
bacteria and/or nitrates in the water from this well.
What should
residents do?
•
DO NOT DRINK THE WATER DIRECTLY FROM THE FAUCET. Bottled water should be used
for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation
until further notice.
As an
alternative to bottled water, bring all water drawn from the faucet to a boil,
let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using. Boiling for a minute
kills bacteria and other organisms in the water, but boiling longer than a
minute can concentrate nitrates.
•
Fecal coliforms and E. coli are bacteria that if present indicate 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.
•
The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you
experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical
advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from
their health care providers.
What happened?
What is being done?
The City is
currently working to repair the main well. Residents will be informed when
tests show no bacteria and there is no longer a need to boil water. The problem
is expected to be fixed within approximately three days.
For more
information, please contact the DNR Manchester Field Office at 563-927-2640 or
Sue Miller at 563-920-1588 . 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.
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