Adams Fire District Lifts Boil Water Order for Customers
ADAMS, Mass. — The Adams Fire District has lifted the boil order on its water system enacted last week after coliform bacteria was found in two water samples.
"We are now operating a temporary chlorination system. Over a period of three days, we collected three rounds of samples from four locations within our distribution system. None of these 12 samples contained any E. coli or total coliform bacteria," according to the lift order released Tuesday morning.
The state Department of Environmental Protection lifted the boil order Tuesday based on further testing.
The Fire District had been informed last Tuesday that a sample collected from a water storage tank the day before tested for E. coli; a second sample from a residence near the storage tank also came up positive for total coliform bacteria. Two repeat tests of the tanks and samples from two other residences did not show any coliform bacteria, nor did a test of the district's well.
However, the district followed procedure in enacting the boil order, cautioning customers to use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, food preparation, brushing teeth and washing dishes.
After this last round of testing came up negative for coliform bacteria — indicating the presence of fecal matter — MassDEP lifted the boil under conditions including continued use of chlorination and the installation of a permanent chlorination with approved controls.
During the past week, businesses have modified their offerings to better comply with the boil order and Berkshire Arts and Technology Public Charter School, which opened Aug. 20, installed water dispensers and asked students to bring a water bottle to school.
For a full public health notice see the posted notice at Adams posting places. For more information, contact the district at 413-743-0978, ext. 13, or jbarrett.afd@albany.twbc.com.
Originally posted on Aug. 23 at 11:20 a.m.
ADAMS, Mass. — The Fire District has instituted a boil order for customers on the water system after coliform bacteria was detected in a water storage tank.
Residents should not drink water from the tap; any tap water should be brought to a roiling boil for at least one minute. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, food preparation, ice making, brushing teeth or washing dishes until further notice.
All ice or tap water collected on or after Monday should be discarded.
The Fire District was informed Tuesday that a sample collected from a water storage tank the day before tested for E. coli; a second sample from a residence near the storage tank also came up positive for total coliform bacteria. Two repeat tests of the tanks and samples from two other residences did not show any coliform bacteria, nor did a test of the district's well.
The Fire District will begin adding chlorine into the well and monitor the well several times a day as well as begin an evaluation of the entire water system. The system is working with the state Department of Environmental Protection to take any further corrective action.
According to the boil order, "We anticipate resolving the problem as soon as possible and will inform you when you no longer need to boil your water or use an alternative source of water."
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