Baltimore DPW issues boil water advisory after E. coli found

Baltimore DPW issues boil water advisory after E. coli found

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Baltimore DPW issues boil water advisory after E. coli found

Baltimore City and Baltimore County officials distributed water Tuesday amid a boil-water advisory due to E. coli found in water samples in west Baltimore.

Authorities on Monday issued a boil-water advisory after E. coli was found in water samples. While officials are confident the E.coli situation had nothing to do with water treatment, they still don't know how it spread.

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works announced Tuesday morning it will distribute water at these three locations beginning at 11 a.m. -- limit 3 gallons per household.

DPW said a water buffalo was made available at the Lansdowne Library and the Middle Branch Park locations and the DPW provided jugs. Residents and facilities needing water were encouraged to bring their own containers.

Some residents who received water are taking the situation in stride.

"It's a blessing whatever you get, and it's free and you're trying to help the community. It's a blessing," said Carol Simmons, a resident.

Baltimore County began distributing bottled water at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Fire Station 5 (4501 Washington Blvd., Halethorpe) but ran out of its supply by 6 p.m., at which point, those in need of water in southwest Baltimore County were advised to go to the Lansdowne Library until 8 p.m.

WBAL-TV 11 News reached out Tuesday to the city DPW, where a representative said to contact the mayor's office. A request for comment was made to the mayor's office and this report will be updated when that is received.

During a news conference Monday night, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said the DPW received word Saturday of a possible positive test during routine testing conducted Friday.

"We were notified of a possible positive test and immediately had the specimen retested for confirmation per emergency protocol. Once DPW received that confirmation, the public was notified," Scott said.

According to DPW officials, water was sampled in several locations and a positive test result was found at the firehouse located at 1503 W. Lafayette Ave. and two police facilities at 1034 N. Mount St. and 920 N. Carey St. Other locations within the impacted zone are being continuously tested, DPW said.

Malika Brown, president of the Cherry Hill Development Corp., told 11 News she was disappointed by how long it took the city to warn residents.

"When I woke up this morning to make breakfast, (I) turned on the water and there was no water. There was no notification. There was nothing said to the residents of Cherry Hill, and I think that's really sad," Brown said.

The mayor said DPW does not know the source of the contamination. City DPW Director Jason Mitchell said the E. coli did not come from wastewater treatment plants and that the department is identifying construction projects that may have caused potential impacts to the water system and is performing leak detection in the area. He also said the water is being treated with chlorine to kill the bacteria.

"The Department of Public Works takes proactive samples from 90 locations within our distribution area monthly," Mitchell said. "We immediately contacted the Maryland Department of the Environment, our critical partners, and conducted further tests Saturday."

The mayor said no illnesses as a result of the contaminated water have been reported as of Monday evening.

Video below: Mayor's news conference Monday night

The advisory to boil water for a minute is in effect for residents, businesses and other facilities in the Sandtown-Winchester and Harlem Park neighborhoods in west Baltimore, comprising portions of North and South Riggs Avenue, West Franklin Street and East and West Carey Street to Pulaski Street.

| LINK: Boil water advisory instructions (Maryland Department of Health)

An initial map the city DPW released included portions of Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties, and suggested those areas boil their water only out of a precaution. But an Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works spokesman told 11 News: "Anne Arundel does not currently purchase any water from the city. Therefore, no Anne Arundel County public water customers need to boil water ... no water from the city of Baltimore entered the Anne Arundel County public water supply system."

The square marked on the DPW's map is the immediate affected area, and the rest of the outlined area on the map was identified to be part of the boil-water advisory out of an abundance of caution, the mayor said.

On Tuesday, Baltimore County issued a statement, saying, in part: "While this bacteria was not detected in Baltimore County, as a precaution a boil water advisory has been extended across areas of Southwestern Baltimore County, including Arbutus, Halethorpe and Lansdowne."

"(It's) very disappointing, upsetting. We got to go through this. We pay for a water every month; we got to deal with this?" said Gil Leicher, a Baltimore County resident.

"It's only been 24 hours and it's already like this, and stores are bare, so it's concerning because we don't know how long this is going to last," said Brandy White, a Baltimore County resident.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa said residents and people in the affected area should boil water for one minute and let it cool before:

If you're an adult, call your healthcare provider if:

For infants and children see your child's health care provider right away if your child:

The Baltimore City Office of Emergency Management said the emergency operations center will remain open and active until the boil water advisory is lifted.

The Maryland Department of Emergency Management tweeted shortly after 8:30 p.m. Monday that it raised the state activation level to enhanced to support the city: "We are coordinating with Baltimore City and other jurisdictions and are ready to assist."

The Maryland Department of the Environment released a statement Tuesday afternoon, saying it is working with the city DPW, providing regulatory oversight and technical assistance.

MDE said it sent a team of engineers to the affected community Tuesday to inspect the distribution system, treatment systems, pumping facilities and other infrastructure. In the coming days, MDE said it will also begin inspections at certain treatment facilities.

There was no immediate indication on how long the boil-water advisory will last or whether the city will continue to distribute bottled water. If test results from Monday night come back negative, the boil water order could be lifted, officials said.

Contractors for the city DPW were out in force performing leak detection, valve assessments and increasing chlorination in the area.

City doesnt know cause of water contamination but says it did not come from wastewater treatment plants #breaking #wbal pic.twitter.com/cgGngiPmUM

Some residents who got clean water Monday were upset about the small amount, especially if the advisory lasts more than a day.

"(I'm) very concerned. We have the school here. Children need to drink water. We have a head start over here. Children need to drink water. They need to have water to wash their face, brush their teeth. They need water to bathe. How about bathing? One gallon per household is not going to do it," said Yolanda Sellers, a resident.

Some residents expressed frustration because city officials did not explain how and why this happened until holding a news conference later Monday evening.

"There is E. coli in the water and it has been contaminated and we need to see why and what's going to happen in this community," said Ianthia Darden, a resident.

"Can I wash my clothes? No. Can I drink the water out of my refrigerator filter? No. Not safe. You shouldn't take a chance," said Cathy Morrell, a resident.

Baltimore City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, D-District 10, whose district encompasses southwest and west Baltimore, is calling out what she calls a failing system, saying in a statement: "How can we expect residents of west and southwest Baltimore to continue to thrive when they are deprived of clean water, a basic human right? We cannot expect Baltimoreans to invest in the future of their city when the city does not invest in their ability to have a healthy tomorrow."

Baltimore City Public Schools said it will provide hand sanitizer for ​staff and students to use for all handwashing. City Schools offers nearly all schools bottled water as a standard drinking and meal preparation practice.

For schools in the primary impacted area of Harlem Park, staff and students will continue to use bottled water ​for drinking, and ​all meals ​will be prepared off-site. These schools include:

At schools in the secondary impacted area in west Baltimore, students may use water and hand sanitizer for handwashing. Most schools will continue to use bottled water. For schools that use filtered water, bottled water was delivered Tuesday, according to City Schools. Bottled water will continue to be used for drinking and meal preparation. These schools include:

Baltimore County Public Schools provides bottled water to students and staff at schools in the area, and meals for those students will be prepared in facilities that are not covered by the boil water advisory.

Baltimore County Public Schools posted a statement on its website, saying: "Baltimore County Emergency Management is reporting that the area of concern for potential E. coli in Baltimore City water supply impacted by the boil water advisory includes the southwest area of Baltimore County. Southwest area schools and offices have been notified. The Department of Facilities Management will ensure adequate bottled water and hand sanitizer is available in all southwest area schools."

Southwest area schools in Baltimore County include:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, E. coli bacteria can be found in the environment, foods and intestines of people and animals. Although most strains of are harmless, others can make you sick.

Some kinds of the bacteria can cause diarrhea, while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia and other illnesses, the CDC said.

The CDC defines total coliform as a group containing fecal and nonfecal coliforms that are detected in water using a standard test. The extent to which total coliforms are present in water can indicate the general quality of that water and the likelihood that the water is contaminated fecally by animal and/or human sources.

DPW issues boil water advisory after E. coli found in water in west Baltimore

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