NEW JERSEY – Drinking water company Veolia issued a boil water advisory Friday in several parts of the Garden State after E. coli was detected in its distribution system, the company said.
The company said that a sample collected on July 19 and repeat samples collected on July 20, 2022, with results generated on July 21, confirmed the presence of E. coli.
Veolia’s Hackensack plant experienced a water main break in Ridgefield. Repairs were made and the water pipe returned to service on the 19th; however, E. coli was detected in samples collected within the area of the break. An E. coli test takes 24 hours to generate a result, the company confirmed.
WHAT IS E.COLI?
According to the CDC, E. coli is a common bacteria that lives in the intestines of animals and people. There are many strains of E. coli.. Most of these strains are not harmful, although there is a dangerous variety called E. coli O157:H7 that produces a very powerful toxic substance. You can get very sick if this bacteria is in your food or water.
HOW DOES E. COLI BACTERIA AFFECT YOUR HEALTH?
Human pathogens in this waste can cause short-term effects such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They can pose a greater health risk to infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
These bacteria can make you sick and are especially concerning for people with weakened immune systems. Bacterial contamination can occur when increased runoff enters the drinking water source (for example, after heavy rains). It can also occur due to a break in the distribution system (pipes) or a failure in the water treatment process.
The above symptoms are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to see a doctor. People at higher risk should seek the advice of their health care providers about drinking this water.
In 1999 it was estimated that about 73,000 people in the United States would get sick each year from E. coli. Of these cases, about 60 deaths were estimated and the number of illnesses and deaths is believed to have decreased since then, the CDC says.
VEOLIA RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE WATER CONTAMINATION IN NJ
As the saying goes: water that you should not drink, let it run. So, don’t drink drinking water directly from the plume while the water advisory is in place in affected New Jersey municipalities.
During an emergency, bring all water to a boil, bring to a boil for one minute, and allow to cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, preparing food, and provided to pets until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
HOW DOES VEOLIA DEAL WITH THE WATER EMERGENCY IN NJ?
Veolia said it is continually monitoring and testing the system and will provide more details as soon as the boil water advisory is lifted.
The company said it will notify residents when tests show no bacteria are present and it no longer needs to boil water. Veolia anticipates resolving the issue in the coming days, it said in its statement.
NEW JERSEY CITIES AFFECTED BY THE WATER ADVISORY
Affected New Jersey towns include: Fairview, Cliffside Park, Ridgefield, Edgewater, Fort Lee, Palisades Park and Leonia.
For more information, you can contact Veolia at 1-800-422-5987 or via electronic mail [email protected] .
General guidelines on ways to decrease the risk of infection from bacteria and other disease-causing organisms are available from the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or its website, just click here.
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