South Whitehall warns residents after bacteria found in water

OUTH WHITEHALL -- The township is advising water customers that it recently had elevated levels of coliform bacteria present in the drinking water, posing a threat to those with compromised immune systems, the elderly and infants..




According to a notice posted on the township's website on Friday, three tests routinely taken for the bacteria came back positive in December.


c Comments

Which well or wells is this problem coming from? My understanding is S.W. has several sources, with one of them nearby some family of mine.

Allentonian

at 2:13 PM January 04, 2015

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"Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other; potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present. Coliforms were found in more samples than allowed and this was a warning of potential problems," the township said in the notice posted Friday.

According to the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Extension, coliform bacteria is naturally occuring in the environment. Coliform bacteria often indicate the "potential presence of disease-causing bacteria in water," the Extension said, but the bacteria's presence does not always mean the water will cause illness.




"Rather, their presence indicates that a contamination pathway exists between a source of bacteria (surface water, septic system, animal waste, etc.) and the water supply," according to the Extension.

South Whitehall states that it has taken more water samples and found "they have all met the required standards."

The township is advising anyone who suffers from a compromised immune system to contact their doctors if they have been drinking the water. Elderly residents and infants could also be at risk of infection.

The township advised anyone with questions about the issue to contact Jerry Charvala at 610-398-0407.

For more information on coliform bacteria and drinking water testing, visit http://extension.psu.edu/natural-res...iform-bacteria

For ways you can lessen the risk of infection by microbes, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.


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