After E. coli bacteria was discovered in the water supply in mid-November, nearly 600 Pablo residences and businesses have been advised to boil water at least one minute before drinking it or using water to brush teeth, wash dishes, make ice or prepare food.

The bacteria was first detected in samples taken Nov. 14. More samples collected Nov. 16 confirmed its presence in the water system.

The presence of E. coli indicates that water may be contaminated by human or animal wastes, and exposure can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms. Infants, young children and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk.

In a letter to community residents, Pablo Water and Sewer Director Luke Taylor explained that samples indicate the contamination is probably in the storage tank or the wells, rather than the distribution system.

He was directed by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, which oversees public water systems, to flush the tank and take samples from the affected wells. The 16 water samples collected last Monday, Nov. 20, from wells three, four and five were free of contaminants. At that point, the DEQ advised him to issue a 14-day boil water order, effective Nov. 22.

In addition to mailing a letter to all customers, the water district posted flyers around town and reached out to various media outlets.  

According to Moira Davin, public relations specialist with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the Pablo Water Sewer District serves around 2,075 people via 595 service connections. “All users are impacted by the Boil Water Advisory,” she wrote in an email Monday.

She added that a DEQ inspector will be in Pablo this week “to help the system look for potential pathways of contamination.” Possible causes include increased run-off from heavy rain or snow melt, a break in distribution lines, or a failure in the water treatment process.

Meanwhile, Taylor detailed in his letter the steps his crew has taken to disinfect the entire system with chlorination and a robust flushing regimen to push chlorine into nooks and crannies in the water lines.

“You will see our vehicles throughout Pablo flushing the lines,” he wrote. “This will cause a huge spray of water coming from the fire hydrants.”

He noted that the boil-water order was especially inconvenient during the Thanksgiving holiday, and said he hoped to hand out bottled water from the office Monday.

“Pablo Water is still uncertain how this happened, but we will work tirelessly to fix it,” he wrote.

Tips to stay healthy

Tribal Health posted some helpful tips last week for residents dealing with E. coli contamination. Among them:

• Use bottled water or boil tap water at rolling boil for at least one minute and cool completely

• If using tap water for hand washing, scrub hands with soap and water at least 20 seconds and rinse well, or use hand sanitizer

• Don’t use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice or water from the refrigerator

• Wash fruits and vegetables with boiled or bottled water

• Use boiled or bottled water for infant formula and to make coffee, tea or juice

• Wash and rinse dishes with boiled water (or use disposable dishes and utensils)

• While showering, avoid swallowing water; give small children sponge baths or use a clean water supply

• Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water

• Pets are vulnerable to E. coli too, so supply them with bottled or boiled water