1995-10-13-sr-p21-reardan-water-tainted

October 13, 1995 Spokesman-Review Page 21:

Reardan water tainted

Town’s residents ordered to boil drinking water

Associated Press

REARDAN, Wash. — State health officials Thursday ordered residents of this farm town to boil drinking water because of contamination in the city water system.

Routine tests indicated the presence of E. coli, a broad class of bacteria, said Scott Torpie, a Spokane-based regional engineer for the Department of Health.

Authorities were unsure if the water contained E. coli 0157:H7, a variety that can sometimes lead to fatal illness if ingested, Torpie said, No illnesses that may be related to water contamination have been reported, he said.

Health officials recommended that the town’s 482 residents use bottled water or boil tap water for 7-10 minutes to kill any harmful bacteria. The town, about 25 miles west of Spokane, is served by a deep well outside town and a smaller backup well.

Reardan-Edwall School District officials canceled classes Friday as a precaution.

“We just didn’t feel there was any way we could be certain that kids wouldn’t take in some water here at school,” Superintendent Tom Crowley said.

The source of the contamination was under investigation. Officials were trying to determine if the bacteria might have reached the water supply during recent repair work on water pipes, Torpie said.

Officials were flushing the town’s water system with chlorine in an attempt to kill any remaining bacteria.

If additional tests detect no E. coli, the boil order could be lifted as soon as Monday, Torpie said. Two consecutive days of clean test results are required before water can be declared safe.