Bacteria Found In Petersburgh Water

by Alex Brooks
An order to boil drinking water was issued for patrons of the Petersburgh Water District after E. coli bacteria was found in the water on July 8 during routine testing.
[private]This bacteria can make you sick, and residents who receive water from the Petersburgh Water District system were ordered to boil water used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes or preparing food.
The sample which tested positive was taken from Water District Superintendent Ben Krahforst’s home on Main Street on Friday, July 5. The result was reported by the lab on Monday July 8, and the Rensselaer County Health Department immediately issued the boil water order. On Tuesday, July 9, Krahforst took seven additional samples from the wells, the tank and several other places in the water system and brought them to the lab for testing.
By late afternoon Wednesday the lab had finished processing those samples and found no coliform bacteria in any of them, which Krahforst said he believes will resolve the issue.
The Rensselaer County Director of Environmental Health Rich Elder was unable to be reached before press time Wednesday evening, so we have no information on when the boil water order will be lifted.[/private]