Health Law

Milford, Massachusetts Under Boil Order, Tap Water Positive for E. coli

By Marler Clark

Residents of Milford, Massachusetts are under a boil order after two tests of tap water showed high levels of fecal matter, with one of the tests returning positive for E. coli.   E. coli is the term for a family of fecal bacteria that includes E. coli O157:H7.  WCVB-TV in Boston reported the following on its website:

Two out of eight water samples that were taken during routine testing on Wednesday contained high levels of fecal matter, according to Milford Water Co. manager Henry Papuga, and one of the two tested positive for E. coli. The Department of Environmental Protection put the boil water order in place on Sunday morning.

Health officials said boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, brushing teeth, washing dishes, food preparation and making ice.

The town is using a "reverse-911" call to notify town residents.  Restaurants have been instructed to use bottled water, and the town is making bottled water available to residents.  Milford Water is the private company that provides the town's water, according to the Milford daily news. 

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on August 09, 2009 (boomark / email).