ST. GEORGE — A boil order was issued last week for the Diamond Valley community after some water samples reportedly tested positive for E. coli.
On June 19, Diamond Valley Acre Water Company collected water samples from the distribution system, which came back as “total coliform positive and/or E. coli positive,” according to a notice posted by the company.
The company states that E. coli bacteria were detected in the upper-pressure zone last month. As a result, the company planned to take parallel samples that would be analyzed in two separate labs.
“One of the labs reported the presence of E. coli in the distribution system, while the other lab reported the samples as Total Coliform (TC) and E. coli absent,” the notice reads.
This discrepancy triggered mandatory repeat sampling, which was taken Thursday.
“The E. coli bacteria were reported as absent in the repeat samples; however, some of the samples were positive for total coliform,” the company notice states.
Total coliform bacteria can be found in soil and vegetation throughout the environment but do not pose an immediate health threat, according to information posted by the Water Quality Extension at Utah State University.
E. coli are a type of coliform bacteria. And while not all coliform bacteria cause illness, E. coli are one of the types that do, USU states.
Since repeat samples in Diamond Valley were found to be total coliform positive (after a routine sample tested positive for E. coli), it confirms E. coli, according to a rule noted by the Diamond Valley company.
One of the total coliform-positive samples was collected from the Whitaker Well, which is where the company said they assume the total coliform came from.
The Whitaker Well has been turned off, and the company said they have been working to restore safe drinking water.
Here’s what Diamond Valley residents have been asked to do until further notice:
Do not drink water without boiling it first. Water should be boiled for one minute and then left to cool before using. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation.
E. coli are bacteria indicating water may be contaminated with human or animal waste. These microbes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms. E. coli can pose a more severe health risk for infants, young children, older adults and those with severely compromised immune systems.
While these symptoms are not only associated with organisms in drinking water, those who experience persistent symptoms should seek medical advice.
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