Spokane7
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July 9, 2010 in City
E. coli detected in raceway tap water
E. coli has been detected in the tap water at Spokane County Raceway, prompting health officials to advise visitors to use bottled water.
People should not use water at the racetrack for drinking, washing hands or preparing food.
The bacteria, which live in the intestines of people and animals, can produce toxins and make people sick with diarrhea. It was found in an employee bathroom, according to raceway manager Cindy Gibbs.
There have been no confirmed report of illnesses related to E. coli.
The health warning is likely to extend through next week as local officials decontaminate the water supply.
Raceway participants and fans may buy bottled water and food on the premises, or bring their own beverages, according to a press release.
Hand sanitizers will be provided.
Couple acquitted of caging 2 boys 
Nomore on July 09 at 8:51 p.m.
“prompting health officials to advise visitors to use bottled water”
You mean Spokane county is trying to find a way to gouge the goers for more money. Before you know it when summer is at its peak the bottle will be close to 4.00 ea.
Not to mention any other BUSINESS with contaminated water from its own source would be SHUT DOWN.
Way to go Spokane. just proving you are nothing more than a money machine.
Nomore on July 09 at 8:55 p.m.
I am personally contactin federal officials to investigate the E-Coli. It means a few things but most common is the sewer system is draining into the water supply. Funny that that was mentioned upon purchase and never taken care of. Spokane is laying blame on the last manager but c’mon, that is so long ago and as a property OWNER you have legal obligations with or with out a manger. A manager can only do so much with what they have and the city railroaded him into being a scape goat.
I am feeling a little sick…. putrid even.
avboden on July 09 at 9:31 p.m.
face it folks, the racetrack is here to stay whether you like it or not. Quit complaining.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on July 09 at 10:13 p.m.
There has to be Potable hot water in the rest rooms and in the kitchens or the health department should close em up. Hand sanitizer’s reassure folks but they are not a good thing.. chefgus
Dazzeetrader11 on July 09 at 11:27 p.m.
Titers not disclosed. Likely doesn’t mean anything clinically but just ONE person gets sick and it would be a lawsuit over something. Common sense please? Go back and take another sample…split that and do cultures. ALL forms of e. coli are clinically virulent?
Paper will say anything to besmirch that dumb park. E Coli is in lots of places. It doesn’t confirm sewage contamination. Bring water if you want.
PlanB on July 10 at 12:36 a.m.
Why does the SR report anything that could possibly be construed as negative when the subject is the raceway?
It isn’t unusual for local water supplies to test positive for some sort of contamination. It happens all the time. And it’s a good thing that it is tested so it can be made safe.
Could it be, somehow, that maybe, the SR is biased? I know it’s hard to fathom… The SR is always so fair and unbiased normally…
mikeln on July 10 at 7:44 a.m.
I wonder what the ties between the people who get to sell water at this money pit and the county commisioners is. Uncle, aunt, friend? It would be interesting to know, but as stories go, we won’t hear much about this in the future unless sombody gets sick.
MrDavis on July 10 at 11:18 a.m.
Nothing a couple hundred thousand won’t fix. It’s a good thing the county is flush with revenue, or supporting this fiasco might look foolish.
spokanecougar on July 10 at 12:13 p.m.
Why is the county continuing to waste tax payer money on this stupid racetrack?
avboden on July 10 at 12:31 p.m.
Because it’s a good investment that will prove itself and already is. Last year it was fully self sufficient as far as running costs go. Once the track re-route is done this off season the main investment costs are done and it will ONLY be bringing in revenue.
Does the spokesman think fit to report that? Nope,
The spokesman review has been 100% biased against the racetrack since the start. They have been called out in numerous letters to the editor and have never delivered a fair and unbiased article.
Did anyone of you know that the track is hosting 15+ events on the street course and 17 drag racing events from TODAY, this doesn’t even include any events that have taken place before today’s date. Did any of you know that this includes WMRRA motorcycle races, NHRA drag races, funny cars, jet cars, bracket racing, and cycling (yes, as in non motorized) events even!!
Of course you didn’t, because you don’t think the track is worth it, and neither does the spokesman, that is obvious.
check it out folks
http://spokanecountyraceway.com/
pick an event, and go to it. You might just change your mind.
cdspokesreader on July 10 at 1:07 p.m.
It amazes me that some people think that this is somehow a conspiracy to make more money off the drinking water. I know someone who almost died from an ecoli illness. The state tests all public drinking water to keep us safe from these kinds of things (not the county). They don’t give these warnings for small amounts of contamination - only when it reaches a high enough level to cause illness. For those of you who feel safe with a little contamination - go ahead and drink the water - just don’t turn around and sue the provider when you get dangerously ill.
spokanecougar on July 10 at 1:12 p.m.
I think what I am trying to say is the county continues to waste tax money for something that should be owned privately. I as a tax payer don’t want my money to be going to a racetrack a very few ever go to and enjoy when we have schools falling apart, roads crumbling, jobs being lost left and right, homeless problems across the county and poverty levels so bad that people just try to look the other way on.
I have no problem with the race track, if it keeps stupid young punks off the street racing each other and putting hundreds of lives in danger I am all for it. I am not all for our county government throwing money into this place when this county has way more pressing issues to deal with.
If the racetrack is so profitable then sell the damn thing get some money back into the county, which has been complaining about lack of money since it probably became a county and lets focus our limited tax dollars to areas that it would better serve, not just a select few who are into car racing.
misjustice on July 10 at 1:45 p.m.
“People should not use water at the racetrack for drinking, washing hands or preparing food.”
If the water is so contaminated that you can’t use it to wash your hands with, after using the restroom, that’s a real health concern and another possible path to spread pathogens; not to mention, more than a little icky…
Sell this money pit and get the County, and MY taxdollars, out of the racetrack ‘business’! It’s one cost after another requiring more tax dollars to be plowed into this pit, and all at a time when we can ill afford it. It’s a selfish waste of limited resources.
Richard and Mielke’s folly!