By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch Customers of the Ashford Water District had to boil their water for cooking and drinking for five days this month while officials were ridding the system of potentially harmful bacteria. The state Department of Health issued a boil-water advisory May 7 and lifted it May 11 after the water was declared fit for normal consumption. E. coli, a type of coliform bacteria, was detected in a sample from regular monthly water-quality tests required by the state, according to Carolyn Cox, a spokeswoman for the state Health Department. She said the utility did more sampling that also tested positive for the bacteria, triggering the advisory. It was lifted after chlorine was added to the water and the system was flushed, resulting in samples by a state inspector that were bacteria-free. Coliform bacteria exists in the environment and in the feces of humans and warm-blooded animals. Such bacteria isn't likely to cause illness, but its presence in drinking water indicates that disease-causing organisms (pathogens) could be in the affected water system. There have been no reports of illnesses possibly linked to the Ashford water during the boil advisory, Cox said, adding that the method of checking water quality worked. "The bigger message here is that the problem was found and corrected by monitoring that is required for the public's safety," she said. During the advisory, customers were urged to boil their water or use bottled water. In addition, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department contacted food-serving establishments that use the Ashford district's water "to tell them they needed to cease operations" while the advisory was in effect, said department spokesman Steve Maynard. He explained that the state health agency regulates water districts, which are responsible for notifying residential customers when an advisory is issued and when it's over. The county health department handles the notifications of food establishments. A water customer who contacted The Dispatch last week during the advisory voiced concern about the E.coli and frustration with how customers were left wondering how long the situation would continue. "We received a two page notice on our door" May 7, but other announcements were slow coming, the customer said.
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