A health advisory that had approximately 90 homes in the Freeland area boiling drinking water since Saturday was lifted this week.
Lehman Enterprises, Inc., a private water system operator on South Whidbey, rescinded the advisory Monday for users of the CAL Waterworks Water System, which services homes along East Harbor Road, including Pheasant Farm and Harbor Sands lanes, and Ravenridge and Beachwood drives.
According to Carol Stuckey, coliform program manager with the state Department of Health, E. coli bacteria was discovered during routine sampling of the system last weekend. In partnership with state regulators, a notice was sent out warning residents of the discovery.
“These bacteria can make you sick and are a particular concern for people with weakened immune systems,” the notice said. “Do not drink the water without boiling it first.”
“It was the first one out there, ever.” — Culley Lehman
E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes, the notice continued. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms.
Culley Lehman, secretary for Lehman Enterprises and operator at CAL Waterworks, said the system has no history of contamination and that the test results came as quite a surprise.
“It was the first one out there, ever,” he said.
Along with the health notice, the offending sample spurred a series of additional tests. All subsequent results came back negative.
Also, the well where the original sample was taken was shut down and the system flushed with chlorine.
Lehman said it appears the E. coli bacteria test result was an aberration, that if a real problem existed the additional tests would have also returned positive results.
He added that while Lehman Enterprises has fulfilled its obligations with the state, they plan to perform additional testing just to be sure.
“We’re going to take more samples on our own,” said Lehman, hours before the advisory was lifted Monday afternoon.
While the water is now safe to drink, even more testing will be done next month and that will provide the final “clean bill of health,” he said. Anyone with questions can call 360-331-7388 or email lehmanwater@whidbey.com.
