EPHRATA — Ephrata schools are following a plan to stop students from drinking tap water this week.

The decision is in response to a health advisory from the city and the state Department of Health. The government agencies advised residents boil their tap water or buy bottled water, after discovering potentially harmful bacteria during routine testing. Tests performed showed a single occurrence of Escherichia coli bacteria, commonly known as E. coli.

“The first thing we did upon hearing this was to come up with a water plan,” said Jerry Simon, district superintendent. “We are working together as a team on this. It is an administration effort to ensure water is available to students and staff when needed.”

The plan consists of providing bottled water to staff and students, providing hand sanitizer in each classroom and boiling all water used while cooking school lunches. There is a sign on all water fountains in the schools telling students not to drink from the fountains and all fountains are covered.

All Ephrata schools are operating normally.

“We expect to be able to keep school going by having available, alternate water sources,” Simon said. “We are following the protocols set by the city until the health advisory is lifted.”

Teachers have educated their students on the water situation and talked to them about where they can get clean water.

“Some schools are handing bottled water to students as they come in to school in the morning,” Simon said. “A couple other schools have many bottled waters in the classrooms and children can take a Dixie cup and fill it with the bottled water whenever they need to.”

The food services boiled abut 60 gallons of water during the weekend to prepare for food preparation Monday.

All athletic teams practicing or competing during the weekend were given water bottles. Teams traveling to Ephrata schools for games were warned about the situation, Simon said.

“We called the teams and told them to bring their own water and we went outside of the town and filled up Gatorade jugs full of clean water for the players,” Simon said. “We are going to continue providing bottled water to students practicing after school.”

The school district will keep students and parents informed on the water issue.

“I think the city has done a good job of dealing with the situation and communicating it to the public,” Simon said. “It’s a small community, so people know what is going on. I appreciate everyone’s patience.”