Town identifies source of water contamination

A bird’s nest and the carcass of a dead animal found on top of a water storage tank on Indian Lane were the apparent causes of the E. coli bacteria found last week in the town’s water supply.

The presence of E. coli prompted state health officials to issue a boil water order for all Canton homes and businesses beginning Tuesday, September 27, and continuing until Monday, October 3, at 4 p.m.

Although town officials had initially expected the order to last between 48 and 72 hours, the town had to wait for clearance from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

At Tuesday night’s selectmen’s meeting, DPW Superintendent Mike Trotta indicated that the state had changed the chlorination requirements and that the water order could have been lifted as early as Saturday if state officials had tested the water that day.

The bird’s nest and carcass were discovered on top of the tank last week. Last inspected in December of 2009, it is one of the older tanks in town, although Trotta said contamination incidents like the one that occurred last week are rare. He said the town plans to install new rubber coverings over the vents on all five water tanks in an effort to prevent a recurrence of the problem.

This tank “intrusion” resulted in higher bacteria counts in the area around Cedar Street only, although extensive testing was conducted throughout the town as a precaution.

While not wanting to minimize the health risks associated with E. coli, Trotta said the level of bacteria detected — three to five parts per million — was less than what would be found in a crystal-clear lake in New Hampshire.

Nevertheless, Trotta said hydrant flushing will continue through this week in order to move the clean water through the system. He also plans to push for more capital money in the next budget to upgrade the four remaining water tanks, although all of them are structurally sound, he said. Trotta also said he will draw down the water tanks even further next year in order to lessen total coliform counts.

Selectman Avril Elkort, standing in as chair in the absence of John Connolly, who had a prior business commitment, apologized profusely to Canton residents and business owners for the delay and any inconvenience it may have caused. She said the town could have waited a few days to declare the boil water order, but officials decided to act immediately for public safety reasons.

She thanked the various town departments — including the DPW, fire and police — for their tireless efforts over the past week. Many town workers also helped staff a water supply giveaway at 135 Will Drive on Friday and Saturday, September 30 and October 1. Eight-thousand gallons of water were distributed on Friday alone, and the supply was exhausted by the end of the day. The supply was replenished on Saturday as the town distributed another 16,000 gallons to residents.

Selectman Bob Burr also vigorously denied rumors that the problem was related to the permitting process for the new water treatment facility on Neponset Street. Burr said the board did everything humanly possible to speed up the process, which was subject to state approvals and litigation.

Trotta said the new water treatment plant should be operational by the end of October. A second treatment plant on Pecunit Street has been in operation since the summer of 2010 and has already saved the town an estimated $45,000 to $50,000.

Town Administrator Bill Friel said the town reached out to all residents through the emergency 911 system as well as through notices posted on message boards throughout town, on the town’s website, and through cable access and other local media. Anyone who did not receive a call from the Reverse 911 system should register with the town by calling the selectmen’s office.

In other matters, Trotta gave the board an update on various major DPW projects. The Route 138 roadway project is now complete, he said, and additional curbing and paving on Will Drive and Pine Street will be completed on Saturday. Trotta said additional concrete work on the sluiceway on Bolivar Street as well as some additional paving may be done next week. Paving on Chapman Street and Westdale Road may also be done before the cold weather sets in.

In other news:

* Selectmen appointed Keith Ryan as a firefighter and paramedic effective October 17.

* The Canton Cooperative Bank has sent in a $500 donation for the Canton Youth Commission.

* All non-emergency municipal offices will be closed on Monday, October 10, in observance of Columbus Day.

* Selectmen will next meet on October 18.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Oct 5 2011. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.