Water tests show no health risks

There are no health risks stemming from four Aug. 24 water sample results that showed coliform bacteria in the northwest part of town.

On Tuesday, the Coeur d’Alene Water Department said that city water is safe to drink.

Sixteen follow-up tests have shown that the affected areas are clear of coliform bacteria, which are naturally present in the environment. None of the tests showed fecal coliform, such as E. coli bacteria, a press release said.

The city is flushing the water mains in the northwest part of town.

The city believes that three of the four bad tests were caused by a recent water main installation in the area.

The fourth test was confined to a home where the customer recently replaced plumbing with pipe that might have been contaminated, the release said.

Coeur d’Alene routinely takes bacteria tests throughout the water system. This year, 324 tests have been taken, including 44 in August.