BOURNE, Mass — Some residents on Cape Cod are being asked to take special precautions with their water after traces of E. coli were found in recent test samples.
Residents in the Bourne Water District are under a boil water order due to water samples collected on Thursday, August 10, which tested positive for E. coli, Bourne town officials say.
Officials say that all water used for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, washing dishes or food preparation should be boiled for at least one minute prior to use. Residents can also use boiled water when they can. Any food, beverages, ice or formula made using water from the public system collected on Thursday or after should be discarded.
“The same precautions to protect humans also apply to pets. Pets should be given bottled water or boiled water that has cooled. Water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator, should not be used for pets while under a boil water order,” Bourne officials said in a statement. “Fish or other aquatic pets should not be exposed to water containing elevated bacteria levels, and appropriately boiled or bottled water should be used instead.”
The order only applies to those south of the Cape Cod Canal. Residents in the Sagamore Water District and Buzzard’s Bay Water District are not affected by the order.
Residents falling under the boil water order will be notified when the order is lifted and it is once again safe to use the public water system.
The presence of E. coli bacteria may indicate the drinking water has been contaminated with human or animal waste. Though most strains of E. coli pose little risk. some can cause illness, including diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms.
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