A boil-water advisory has been issued in several neighborhoods of Mount Olive, Morris County, after E. coli bacteria was detected in two local water sources. The bacteria was found in the Main and Village Green water systems, according to routine water samples taken last week. The cause of the contamination is currently under investigation.
"Do not drink the water without boiling it first," the township warned on its municipal website. The water department is working to identify any sanitary defects that may have caused the problem, and is flushing the system and re-sampling the distribution system.
Mayor Joe Nicastro provided an update via Facebook, stating that the advisory would continue at least until the next day. "Samples were sent out again today. We will have the results hopefully by tomorrow," Nicastro said. "In the meantime, boil the water, just in case of any issues."
E. coli is a bacteria that can indicate fecal contamination. "That can be for multiple reasons," Nicastro said of the results. "One can be rain runoff that had animal feces. It could be a lab error. But we want people to take precautions."
The presence of E. coli in water can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. It may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
The township has made potable water available during the advisory outside of the Senior Center at 204 Flanders-Drakestown Road. Residents are asked to bring their own reusable bottles. The Mount Olive water and sewer department, which owns, operates, and maintains 10 municipal water systems with approximately 4,700 service connections, is responsible for maintaining the infrastructures as well as installing and servicing water meters, according to Patch.com.