Greenwood water system customers in Ely Township must boil their tap water after E. coli bacteria were confirmed in the supply, the township announced Tuesday, Sept. 29.
The contamination was detected in a routine sample collected Sept. 10, but the positive result was initially attributed to the wrong water system. Greenwood residents went 18 days without being notified of the positive result.
Township Supervisor Jeremy Laakso said in a statement posted Sept. 29 that the positive sample was initially reported as belonging to the Diorite Water System. Diorite residents were notified Sept. 11, and that system's advisory has since been lifted after further state-required testing cleared it.
Laakso said the township learned of the mix-up Sept. 29 and notified Greenwood customers the same day. He said the township would conduct a "root cause failure analysis" to determine how the error occurred.
What residents should do
The township is telling Greenwood customers to bring all water to a rolling boil for one minute and let it cool before using it. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, preparing food and washing dishes until the advisory is lifted.
The risk is greater for infants, young children, some elderly residents and people with compromised immune systems. E. coli bacteria can indicate contamination by human or animal waste, which can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea and headaches.
What comes next
The township said it is collecting follow-up samples and investigating the source of the contamination. The source remains unknown.
Officials anticipate resolving the problem by Friday, Oct. 2, according to the township's official notice. MyUPNow reported on the advisory the same day. The advisory remains in effect until the township announces test results show no bacteria.
The township asked residents to share the advisory with anyone who drinks the water and may not have received direct notice, including people in apartments, nursing homes, schools and businesses.
Residents can contact Matt Champion, the Greenwood water system operator, at 906-235-9347 for more information. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline, 1-800-426-4791, offers general guidance on reducing infection risk from waterborne microbes.
