Boil water notice issued in parts of King County due to E coli contamination - KOMO News

Boil water notice issued in parts of King County due to E coli contamination | KOMO

KING COUNTY, Wash. — A boil water notice is in effect for homes and businesses in Des Moines and part of Normandy Park after E coli bacteria was found in the water supply.

The bacteria was found in the water supply for King County Water District #54 . Residents in that district are advised to not drink their water without boiling it first for at least a minute.

E coli was present in one of the water district’s weekly samples. In a follow-up sample, E coli was no longer in the water but coliform was. Coliform is a commonly found bacteria in the environment, but not expected in public water systems. Even though E coli was no longer in the water, a boiled water order is still required for the district.

The district began chlorinating the district’s water systems on Saturday, June 17 and plans to update the public when the boil order is lifted. King County Water District says boiled or purchased water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice.

The chlorination is expected to kill the bacteria, but will have effects that people may find unpleasant. Chlorine will kill mineral build up inside the pipes, such as iron and manganese, which can cause cloudy or brown looking water for some.

The water district has consulted with the Washington State Department of Health and will be attempting to aggressively flush the system to clear the cloudy water.