EPHRATA — Ephrata city staff are continuing to test water lines throughout the city after discovering a high level of bacteria in the area of Ivy Street Northeast in December.

The city conducts monthly testing on the drinking water and discovered a high level of coliform bacteria.

Coliform bacteria are not likely to cause illness, according to the Washington state Department of Health. They can indicate the presence of other disease-causing organisms.

City Administrator Wes Crago said once the bacteria was found, the city tested for other organisms and didn’t find anything. Then city staff flushed the area water lines with chlorine and re-tested for coliform bacteria.

“We did six of those re-tests to make sure our water is clean,” he said.

Area residents were notified about the situation, according to the city. They didn’t need to boil their water.

While the cause for the bacteria is unknown, Crago said it’s possible for the water to become contaminated during construction. Also if a water line is turned off, the water can stagnate allowing the bacteria to grow. 

“Sometimes, despite your best efforts, something gets into the lines when you’re working on them,” he said.

In response, the city is testing the water throughout the city for the next two to three weeks, Crago said.

“We don’t know if we’ll find something,” he said. “We want to give the public the assurance that we’re going to keep working to make sure the system is operating the way that it’s supposed to with safe and clean drinking water.”