IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR
DRINKING WATER
Tests Showed Coliform Bacteria in Dillingham Water System February 2006
Our water system recently violated the drinking water standard for total coliform bacteria. Although this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to correct this situation.
The Department of Transportation routinely monitors for the presence of drinking water contaminants. We took eight samples to test for the presence of coliform bacteria during February. Two of our samples showed the presence of total coliform bacteria. The standard is that no more than 1 sample per month may do so.
What should I do?
You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.
People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. Coliform bacteria are generally not harmful themselves. Coliforms are bacteria which 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.
Usually, coliforms are a sign that there could be a problem with the systems treatment of distribution system (pipes). Whenever we detect coliform bacteria in any sample, we do follow-up testing to see if other bacteria of greater concern, such as E. Coli, are present. We did not find any of these bacteria in our subsequent testing, and further testing shows that this problem has been resolved.
What happened?
On February 9, 2006, two days after the routine samples indicated the presence of coliform bacteria, we took six repeat water samples. Laboratory test results were negative for total and E. Coli bacteria. We were unable to determine the source of the coliform. A possible cause may be contamination introduced during the initial sampling process. We will continue strict monitoring to insure the integrity of the water system.
For more information, please contact Mr. Phillip Russell at 808-836-6461, or by mail at State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, Airports Division, 400 Rodgers Blvd, #700, Honolulu, Hawaii 96819.
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 the Dillingham Water System.
State Water System ID: 338
Date Distributed: 3/06/06
February 27, 2006 (SB03509036 3/9/06)
