Burney residents told to keep boiling water to kill E. coli bacteria - Record Searchlight

Burney residents told to keep boiling water to kill E. coli bacteria

Burney Water District continues a boil water advisory after E. coli found
Jessica Skropanic

An advisory issued by the Burney Water District warning Burney residents to boil their tap water before they consume it was still in effect Thursday ― more than a week after the advisory was issued.

District workers are using several techniques to clean the water and make it safe to drink again, the district reported. But for now, Burney residents should continue to boil their tap water for at least one minute, or use bottled water, for drinking and cooking.

The district issued the boil water advisory on July 12, the same day tests came back positive for E. coli in the town’s drinking water distribution system, according to a Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency announcement.

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The bacteria could mean human or animal dung got into the water supply, according to the Burney Water District and the California Water Resources Control Board.

If consumed, E. coli bacteria can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches and other symptoms. People most at risk for severe reactions are infants and young children, elderly people and anyone with a severely compromised immune system, according to the Shasta County Department of Health and Human Services.

The water district issued the advisory on July 12, the same day it found E. coli in Burney’s drinking water supply. At that time, district officials said they were “working to identify… sources of contamination and eliminate them,” and planned to flush “fresh water into the system” and, if necessary, chlorinate the water, according to the original announcement.

At the time they issued the advisory, water control district officials predicted they could fix the problem within a week, they said in the announcement. “We will inform you in writing when tests show the bacteria have been eliminated and you no longer need to boil your water,” the announcement said.

Updates to the advisory suggest the problem might be more stubborn that district officials originally hoped.

Calls to the water control district were not immediately returned on Thursday. Shasta County Health and Human Services reported it had no further information on the problem.

For additional information, residents can contact Burney Water District at 530-335-3582 or the state's Division of Drinking Water at 530-224-4800.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.