Residents in a northern Oklahoma town were warned not to drink the water without boiling it after officials learned that it tested positive for E.coli bacteria.
The City of Kingfisher said in a statement Saturday that the well in which the contaminated water was coming from had been shut down. However, officials urged the public to “bring water to a full, rolling boil for one minute” before using. The uses listed included drinking, preparing food, making baby formula, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, bathing infants who may drink bath water and cleaning open wounds.
“Boiling kills bacteria and other disease-causing agents,” the statement said. “Alternatively, use bottled water or another acceptable source for consumption.”
It is believed that the E.coli in the water may have come from heavy rains, flooding and excessive runoff. Tests indicated that the water may have also been contaminated with human or animal waste, officials said.
City workers are chlorinating and flushing the water system to fix the problem, and an alternative source of water will be provided.
Heavy flooding has made its way through the state. A woman in eastern Oklahoma died after she apparently drowned when she drove into a flooded creek.
Kingfisher is located about 50 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.
