BALTIMORE — Water continues to be an issue in parts of Baltimore City.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) has been trying to flush the system since E. Coli was discovered in the water over the weekend. Crews are also out conducting valve assessments and leak checks.
One thing DPW says they are confident about, is that test results were not related to the City's oft-troubled wastewater treatment plants.
Currently, the bacteria is believed to be contained to the Sandtown-Winchester and Harlem Park neighborhoods in West Baltimore, from Riggs Avenue to West Franklin Street between Carey and Pulaski Streets, impacting around 1,500 residential and commercial facilities. Thus far, there is no evidence that it has spread to the East or Southeast sections of the City.
Contamination was detected when DPW sampled drinking water at the Baltimore Police Department's Western District Station at 1034 N. Mount Street, and the Engine 8 Fire Station at 1503 W. Lafayette Avenue.
MORE: DPW finds E. Coli in water in several locations throughout Baltimore
DPW says they take 360 samples monthly from 90 locations throughout the City, to identify any potential issues with water quality.
A total of 24 samples were collected Monday evening, and results are determined after 24 hours.
Water at these Baltimore City Schools have also been impacted.
In the meantime, those schools will use bottled drinking water and deliver daily meals prepared off-site.
Although there is no reported contamination in Baltimore County's water supply currently, residents in the Arbutus, Halethorpe and Lansdowne areas are being advised to boil their water along with those in the City until the situation clears. That also includes schools in those neighborhoods.
Here are some instructions on how to safely do that.
To see if your area may be impacted, click here to view an interactive map of locations affected.
Beginning at 11am Tuesday, Baltimore City will be distributing water to residents at these three locations
- Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School at 1401 W. Lafayette Avenue
- Middle Branch Park at 3301 Waterview Avenue
- Landsdowne Library at 500 3rd Avenue
- Fire Station 5 at 4501 Washington Blvd. in Halethorpe (3-8pm)
According to the CDC, E. coli is a bacteria found in the environment, foods, and intestines of humans and animals. Most strains are harmless but others can cause sickness.
The Maryland Department of the Environment says boil water advisories will remain in effect until the cause of the E. coli is determined, and the problem has been fixed.
The department said they had engineers inspecting the distribution system, treatment systems, pumping facilities and other infrastructure on Tuesday.
