DPW finds E. Coli in water in several locations throughout Baltimore

BALTIMORE — Don't drink the water!

That's what community members of Baltimore's Harlem Park are being told after bacteria was discovered in the water.

Baltimore's Department of Public Works (DPW) found E. Coli in tested water samples from several locations in City Council District 9.

WMAR Staff

According to DPW's Twitter page, three locations within the district 1503 W. Lafayette Ave. (Fire Dept. Engine 8) and Police facilities at 1034 N. Mount St, 920 N. Carey St, all had E. Coli in the water.

Community members were notified when DPW officials went door-to-door giving notice.

"They just asked us, from what i gathered, they asked us not to bathe, not to drink the water and if you do to boil the water before you use it for anything," community resident Ianthia Darden said.

DPW said the team is flushing the system and performing leak detection, valve assessments, and increasing the chlorination in the area.

DPW officials said the bacteria was discovered during routine testing. It affects approximately 1,500 residential and commercial facilities.

One gallon of water was provided to each household by DPW.

"One gallon bottle of water, depending on your household size, is not going to work, even for a day, it's not going to work. So we need some answers," Delegate Roxanne Prettyman said.

As a precaution, DPW has issued a Boil Water Advisory for residents, businesses, and other facilities in portions of West Baltimore.

DPW

This advisory affects about 1,500 people in the following areas:

• Riggs Avenue to West Franklin Street and East-West
• Carey Street to Pulaski Street
• Bolton Hill
• Harlem Park neighborhood

The following schools were also affected by the water quality issue:

• Furley Elementary School
• Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School
• Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West
• Frederick Elementary School
• Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts
• Career Academy

In a release from BCPSS, they state that they'll be providing hand sanitizer for staff and students to use for everyone to use and to continue to use bottled water as well.

All meals will be prepared off-site.

Boiling water kills bacteria and other organisms that are in the water. Water should be boiled for one minute before the following activities:

• Drinking
• Brushing teeth
• Washing fruits and vegetables
• Preparing baby food and formula
• Making ice
• Giving to pets
• Washing dishes
• Food preparation

Mayor Brandon Scott also released the following statement:

City Fire, Police, and the Officer of Emergency Management, as well as MDE have all been notified, provided representatives, and are engaged with DPW.

DPW will continue to sample and survey the communities in the area where the sampling was performed.

Residents should throw away all stored water, drinks, or ice made recently and can store boiled water in a clean container with a cover.

Delegate Roxane Prettyman lives in the area and says she didn't receive a warning, just a phone call from her brother.

"My brother called me, told me he heard it on the news and he sent me a little tidbit on the text and I said, 'Well let me ride past the fire station on Lafayette to see whats going on,'" Prettyman said.

Community resident Zelda Brown said by the time she was told to prepare it was too late.

"Well, this morning when I came out the door, I saw them out here and I said, 'Oh good, they are fixing the water right?' And then the guy turned around and told me to fill my tub up with water in case I need to get some water," Brown said. "I said by the time I went to go fill up some jugs of water, the water was already turned off."

It is unclear where the bacteria came from but no symptoms have been reported.

CDC says E-coli is bacteria found in the environment, foods and intestines of humans and animals, saying most strains are harmless but others can cause sickness.