Staff Writer
A boil-water order issued earlier this month has been lifted and the water is now safe to drink, according to Robert Lento, director, Mars Hill and Blaine Water Company.
The order came about following recent road work along a section of U.S. Route 1, near Scovil Building Supply.
“E. coli bacteria were found in water samples collected in areas of town where construction was done on the water main. A positive hit for E. coli was found in a sample taken on Aug. 19 and another in a follow-up sample on Aug. 23, resulting in a decision to put the order in place,” said Lento.
According to Lento, the contamination of the water was caused by “flushing the water mains, which depressurized low-pressure areas of the distribution system.”
To rectify the problem, Lento said residential check valves were installed in low-pressure areas and tests were performed on the water mains in the area “to see if there was a problem with the main water line.”
“A final water test was performed and the order was subsequently lifted Aug. 26,” he said.
Only a small group of customers were affected.
“It affected about 75 customers in the neighborhood near Scovil’s,” said Lento.
Lento said it’s not uncommon to ask customers to boil water when work is performed on water lines.
“When we work on the lines, we typically put a boil order in place. But this time E. coli was found, necessitating more tests and work be performed before the water was deemed safe for consumption,” said Lento.
For more information, contact Lento’s office at 425-2620.
