Scituate residents advised to boil water after sample tests positive for E. coli, town says

Town officials in Scituate are advising residents to boil their water after a sample tested positive for E. coli.

In a notice posted Friday to the town’s website, officials said they were notified Wednesday by a lab that a water sample taken this week had tested positive for E. coli bacteria. A second set of samples, taken after the initial results showed no E. coli but tested positive for other bacteria contaminants, officials said.

Those results came back Friday.

“These bacteria can make you sick and are especially a concern for people with weakened immune systems,” officials wrote, adding that bacterial contamination is usually caused when runoff enters sources of drinking water or if something in the water distribution process is impacted, like a burst pipe.

Until further notice, residents should boil water for at least a minute before drinking it, or switch to bottled water, the advisory said. The boil order also applies to making ice, food preparation, brushing teeth, and washing dishes, officials said.

Any ice, beverages, uncooked food, or formula that used tap water from before Oct. 27 should be discarded immediately, officials said.

Boiled water can be safely cooled before it is used as the boiling process has already killed all the bacteria, officials said. The town said the problem is likely to last about three or four days.

Those who live in the village of Humarock do not need to heed the order, officials said.

While the kind of bacteria found in the second set of samples won’t usually cause illness, their presence in drinking water usually indicates more harmful pathogens may also be present.

Ingesting water infected with such pathogens can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, and other symptoms, officials said.

While the order is in effect, water officials will be flushing hydrants in town and taking repeat samples until officials determine the water has returned to a safe level.

Scituate last issued a boil water order in 2019, town records show, during a cross-contamination event with multiple local towns that lasted roughly a week.

Residents may also use disinfecting tablets purchased at pharmacies to clean their water, state environmental officials said.

When bathing, adults and children should be sure to avoid swallowing water, officials said, and babies should be given sponge baths to avoid any accidental ingesting of tap water.

Pets should also be protected although plants can be watered as usual unless they are fruits like strawberries or tomatoes where the water would contact the edible part of the fruit.

Guidelines on safe water practices can be found here.