foodconsumer.org: Milford Citizens Told to Boil Tap Water

Milford Citizens Told to Boil Tap Water
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admin on 08/11/2009 11:04:00
 
Rachel stocktonn (rachels@foodconsumer.org)
Massachusetts has some of the oldest cemeteries in the nation; many of those
dated from the 17th century are written in Middle English.  If you look
carefully, you can locate some of the likely victims of summer cholera
outbreaks.  Typically a problem in the summer, the deadly disease was caused by
contaminated water.  Often, entire families would be wiped out in a matter of
days; each date on the stones shows the progression of the disease as it made
its way through all of the family members.
Residents of Miford are getting a taste of what it's like to fear what lurks in
their tap water this week.  The results of a test taken last Wednesday showed
the water, all of which came from Echo Lake Resevoir, has traces of E. Coli and
other fecal coliform bacterium.  Milford Water manager Henry Papuga instructed
citizens to boil their water before using it; all formulas and food prepared
with tap water since Wednesday should also be thrown out.
Although all traces of the bacterium were gone by Sunday evening, water for
doing dishes and brushing teeth should be boiled for one minute until further
notice.
According to WebMd, symptoms of an E. Coli infection consist of painful cramping
and bloody diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, and stomach tenderness.