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FECAL COLIFORM OR E. COLI NOTICE
[SYSTEM] water is
contaminated with [fecal coliform/E. Coli]
BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING
Fecal coliform [or E. coli] bacteria were
found in the water supply on [date]. These bacteria can make you sick, and
are a particular concern for people with weakened immune systems.
What should I do?
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DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT
BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one
minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or
bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing
dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills
bacteria and other organisms in the water.
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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.
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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.
What happened? What is being
done?
Bacterial contamination can occur when
increased run-off enters the drinking water source (for example, following heavy
rains). It can also happen due to a break in the distribution system
(pipes) or a failure in the water treatment process.
[Describe corrective action]. We
will inform you when tests show no bacteria and you no longer need to boil your
water. We anticipate resolving the problem within [estimated time frame].
For more information, please contact [name
of contact] at [phone number] or [mailing address]. General guidelines on
ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe
Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
Please share this information with all the
other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received
this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools,
and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place
or distributing copies by hand or mail.
This notice is being sent to you by
[system]. Water System ID#: __________________ Date
Distributed:
Source: Minnesota Department of Health |