A health advisory is issued for customers of Island Utility.

Health officials this week advised customers of Island Utility Water System – which serves the southeast portion of the island – to boil their tap water before drinking, following recent water samples in which traces of the E. coli bacteria were found.

The island is served by several different water systems, but only customers of Island Utility – which serves 146 connections and about 1,230 islanders, including students at Port Blakely Elementary and IslandWood schools – need to boil their water, said Denise Lahmann, of the state Department of Health.

It is believed that only the two schools, which have a separate connection, were actually contaminated. But Island Utility went door-to-door Sunday afternoon and evening to notify residential customers as well, said company spokesperson Scott Shelton.

The advisory was to be in effect at least through Tuesday afternoon, when the next round of test results were expected, but customers were advised to heed the warning until further notice.

Results of the latest testing were not available at press time.

Island Utility’s service area stretches from Restoration Point north and west to Old Mill Road, and across portions of Blakely Avenue and West Blakely.

“We consider it fortunate that only a limited area was affected,” Shelton said. “The terrible thing is that two schools are located in that area. We are extremely concerned and are doing everything we can to eliminate the bacteria from the water system.”

Island Utility is a privately owned water company not affiliated with other water systems in the area, and is not part of the city system.

The city issued a news release Monday morning to distance itself from the problems, saying, “the city has no jurisdiction over the several privately owned and operated water systems on the Island, including Island Utility Water System.”

Bacteria was first discovered on Friday evening, but couldn’t be confirmed until Sunday because samples must incubate before they can yield results.

For safety, customers should only use treated bottled water or boiled water for consumption, brushing teeth, dishwashing, preparing food or making ice. Water should be boiled for 3 to 5 minutes and allowed to cool before using.

Neither Island Utility nor the health department know for certain what caused the contamination, but it is believed to be the result of recent “surface water intrusion” caused by heavy rain.

No illnesses related to the consumption of contaminated drinking water had been reported Monday.

To correct the problem, Island Utility operators are inspecting the system to identify potential contaminant entry points raising disinfectant levels and flushing water through the system.

Lahmann, whose agency is working with Island Utility to correct the system’s problems, said customers should boil water rather than using personal water filtration systems because, if storm water is indeed the culprit, there could be other contaminants present that haven’t been tested for.

“If you look at a puddle, E. coli isn’t the only thing in there you wouldn’t want to drink,” Lahmann said. “I’m not saying for sure there are other contaminants present, but without testing we just don’t know.”

Once test results are reported safe, water customers will be notified by Island Utility that the advisory has been lifted.

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School advisory

The Bainbridge Island School District took steps to protect student health Monday, after the water system serving Blakely Elementary School was reported contaminated.

School officials said bottled water will be available at the school until the problem is resolved, according to an advisory to parents issued Monday. Food service will use disposable utensils and trays, eliminating the possibility of contamination of these items.

The school also will adhere to the State Department of Health’s “boil water advisory.” Water testing at the school will continue one or two times a day, until two consecutive samples are clean.

If a family member develops diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea or vomiting, medical attention should be sought, school officials advised.

Find out more

More information about drinking water and coliform bacteria are available on the Department of Health web site, www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw. Island Utility customers can also contact Scott Shelton at (206) 484-8317 (cell phone) or (206) 319-2656 (office).