Water Warning Remains In Effect Presence Of E. Coli Prompts Boil Order

A potentially dangerous form of bacteria has infiltrated the water in a neighborhood above Hayden Lake, prompting health officials to issue a boil-water advisory.

About 100 families on the Allied Water Inc. system were notified late Friday of the boil-water advisory after tests confirmed E. coli in the water system.

Allied Water serves about 2,500 households, but only 103 are affected by the contamination. The customers live along Lookout Drive, Westview Drive, Sundown Drive, Sundance Drive and 15th Street.

While coliform bacteria frequently is found in water systems that don’t chlorinate, E. coli is much rarer, said Steve Tanner of the Idaho Division of Environmental Quality.

Last year, Bayview, Idaho, was placed under a boil-water advisory because of E. coli, as was the Beeline water system in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. E. coli is a form of coliform bacteria that indicates the presence of fecal matter.

No one at Hayden Lake has reported illness due to the bacteria, Tanner said.

Allied Water chlorinated its water Wednesday after receiving the first test results that just showed coliform bacteria. After E. coli was found Friday, the utility plastered notices on all doors in the affected neighborhood, said manager Bob Roe.

“We raised the chlorine some more, and we really socked it today to flush the system,” Roe said Monday.

The source of the contamination was unknown Monday. Initial inspections have turned up nothing, Roe said. Allied Water is planning to inspect the system with state environmental officials today.

, DataTimes