City of Burlington lifts boil water notice; samples come back clean with no E. coli detected in water system

BURLINGTON, NC (WGHP) – The boiling water notice has been lifted for the city of Burlington’s water customers, according to a city news release.

Water is safe to consume, bathe in, cook in, wash dishes, and give it to pets without flushing the plumbing or taking additional action, the city said.

Tests on water samples came back clean. There are no E. coli in the city’s water supply system.

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Alamance County’s Department of Health approved businesses, restaurants, lodging, and tattoo parlors can now reopen once the following steps are complete.

  1. Discard ice, food, or beverages prepared during the time when the water supply was not approved.
  2. Clean and disinfect any areas that may have come into contact with contaminated water.
  3. Flush pipes, taps, drinking fountains, and devices with plumbing connections for 5 minutes.
  4. Flush the water heater according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  5. Replace the water filter cartridges. For more information, companies can call the Department of Health at 336-290-0653 or visit alamance-nc.com.

“There is still evidence that the E. coli contamination was isolated in a single pipe connected to an outside port in an apartment building near downtown. E. coli was not detected at any sampling location, except for this single cone, which happens to be one of the 203 sampling locations in our water system that the city regularly tests, ”the statement said.

“The contaminated cone was first sampled on 07/14/21 and a second test on 07/15/21 confirmed the presence of E. coli. Each test takes 24 hours to complete. Sample locations immediately upstream and downstream of the tap repeatedly tested negative for E. coli, but state and federal regulations required the city to issue a boiling water notice for the entire water distribution system after the second confirmed positive sample on the tap.

“City Water Resources crews worked with the property owner to replace the spigot that led to the contaminated sample. While flushing the service line and replacing the nozzle yesterday, the crews found significant decaying insects and organic matter that caused a partial blockage inside the luminaire. This was likely the source of the contamination. After replacing the nozzle, the house connection line to the apartment building, the new nozzle and the internal piping were rinsed, chlorinated and then rinsed again. On the evening of 07/15/21, water samples from the nozzle, inside the apartment and the upstream and downstream locations were examined. The results received this evening (07/16/21) showed no presence of E. coli. “

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On the recommendation of state environmental officers, the city’s employees also built a water pipe around the house and flushed the main pipes.

Samples were taken from several locations along the perimeter and were negative for E. coli.

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