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BURLINGTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Burlington, Massachusetts has placed a emergency Boil Water Order after E. Coli was detected during a regular water testing.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection saw that 3 out of 11 water samples came back positive in the town.
"These bacteria can make you sick and are a particular concern for people with weakened immune systems," an alert on the town's website stated.
The town released how they should consume their water in the meantime:
- Bring all water to a rolling boil and let it boil for at least one (1) minute, and let it cool before using or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, food preparation, brushing teeth and washing dishes until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
- Discard all ice, beverages, uncooked foods, and formula made with tap water collected on or before June 16, 2021.
- Refer to the attached notice for additional precautions you may take. This information is also located on the MassDEP website:
Consumer Information on Boil Orders https://www.mass.gov/service-details/consumer-information-on-boil-orders
Boil Order Frequently Asked Questions https://www.mass.gov/service-details/boil-water-order-faqs
- Food establishments must follow MA DPH procedures and the direction of their local board of health, which may be more stringent than the DPH guide. MA Department of Public Health - Guidance for Emergency Action Planning for Retail Food Establishments (pg. 19) http://www.foodprotect.org/guides-documents/emergency-action-plan-for-retail-food-establishment/.
- Fecal coliforms and E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
- The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
Right now, supermarket shelves for bottled water are emptying.
The Center for Disease Control and Protection said that in 3-4 days, E. Coli symptoms could include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. Some people may have a fever, which usually is not very high (less than 101˚F/38.5˚C).
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