Frequently asked questions about Janesville's water boil advisory
Janesville residents seem to have quite a few questions about the boil-water order for residents on the city's east side.
Water Utility Director Dan Lynch is heading up the effort, and answered a few questions frequently asked Friday by WCLO listeners.
How do I know if my water is contaminated?
Lynch says the best way to tell if you're affected by the Department of Natural Resources' precautionary boil-water order is to check the city's map here. Lynch says it's hard to verbally describe the area affected. City employees are also manning the water utility phone lines (755-3115) until 9pm Friday, and starting again at 7am Saturday.
How did E. Coli get into my water?
It's unclear. Lynch says one indicator test shows a positive result in relation to E. Coli bacteria. The city does not have confirmation that the test result is final. The city will conduct five other tests related to the one positive test, and the results will be available Saturday afternoon. Lynch expects those five tests will come back negative, but because there is one indication of E. Coli, the city wants to err on the side of caution. He says the city cannot tell the public the water is safe if there's a possibility it isn't.
If I'm boiling water, when can I stop?
Lynch expects results from five other tests by mid-afternoon Saturday. The city will notify residents via the city's email lists, on the city's website and through local media outlets. The Janesville Gazette's printing schedule and WCLO's weekend program schedule allow their websites to be the most efficient way to receive the information. WCLO News expects to break into regularly scheduled programming to update listeners.
Is it safe to use my water if I don't drink it?
Lynch says you can use the water for dishes, laundry and showers as long as you aren't consuming it. That goes for pets, too. He says when the water dries on dishes, the bacteria doesn't stick around.
How are east-side businesses handling the situation?
Lynch says the Rock County Health Department is calling certain businesses in the affected area. If the business uses water for public health activity--like grocery stores washing produce, dentists using water with patients, and even convenience stores--they are told to take precautionary measures. Lynch says the bigger stores and restaurants that are part of a chain have corporate standard operating procedures for this situation. He says many of these corporations have stores in other areas of the country that have had to deal with water problems.
When has this happened in Janesville before?
Lynch has worked with the city since 1983. The city hasn't had a boil alert since then. Prior to that, Lynch says there was an incident in the late 1970s when the DNR issued a boil alert.
Still have more questions?
City employees are taking calls at 755-3115 until 9pm Friday, and starting again at 7am Saturday.
May 9, 2009 at 2:39 p.m.
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Hey everyone
Well the water boil has been lifted and supposedly the water is safe. For those affected, do you really trust them? I dont, not yet. I will continue to drink bottled water. I will bathe now but am leary. I dont trust this city.
May 9, 2009 at 1:58 p.m.
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Me thinks the city knew something earlier in the week as they were flushing lines around Randall, which in the twenty years I've lived here I've never seen done. Coincidence?
May 9, 2009 at 1:43 p.m.
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Rock Haven Nursing Home was notified and had bottled water brought in yesterday afternoon. I believe this is the elderly nursing home mentioned in an earlier posting that was in the affected area. I am not only boiling water for drinking for me and my dog, I am using boiled water for dishes as well. Can't believe that bacteria disappear when the dishes dry.
May 9, 2009 at 11:40 a.m.
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This is the EPA main page on e. coli in drinking water:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminant...
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E. coli is by itself (except for a single strain that produces a toxin) not a health threat, but primarily an indicator of other potentially harmful bacteria and microbes. Yes, the source is ultimately human or animal feces, but you need to ingest the living microbes to get sick. That's why boiling water for drinking or cooking is important, but not really an issue for showering (I guess I personally would rather wash dishes with at least very hot water).
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Here is the CDC page on the health risks:
http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_...
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Even the CDC says the difference between actively harmful E. coli and E. coli that are only markers for other contamination "gets confusing even to microbiologists"!
May 9, 2009 at 11:12 a.m.
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I am soooo thirsty!! Can I get a drink of water?? This website is of little use.
May 9, 2009 at 10:59 a.m.
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Suzie
E. coli is a species of fecal coliform bacteria that is specific to fecal material ...
May 9, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.
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I do not listen to the local radio stations AND now that the Gazette is a morning edition I was not aware of this nfo until 8:30am today. My concern is that there is a Elderly Group Home that houses very frail individuals in the affected area that was not informed. I would think that the city could have taken those businesss into consideation for notifiction on Friday as a priority for the benefit of those individuals. I am only in hopes that they can purchase bottled water somewhere this morning n the city.
May 9, 2009 at 9:39 a.m.
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According to The City of Janesville, there has been no change in the status. The 24-hour test results will be available AFTER 1:30 p.m. It will be posted on The Gazette & City website, as well as on WCLO.
May 9, 2009 at 7:32 a.m.
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Yes, a lot of things are clear!!!
As is typical in Janesville, Mr. Clear has been in office too long and needs to be replaced by his sister in-law Crystal Clear!
May 9, 2009 at 5:04 a.m.
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I'll bet you are a nurse or work in the medical field, right? Ok interesting what you said but the part that says its ok to wash dishes in the water, doesnt specifically say to add bleach to the water. I read it as just wash your dishes in the water and when the water disappears, so does the e-coli. If you scroll back up to the question and answers, I think alot of people might interpret it that way. Well thanks for your comments. I decided not to shower. I just used boiled water at the sink to freshen up. I suppose if you are in medical field or just have alot of knowledge on it, its easier to relax about it. But you are right, this will be over and done with very soon. :-)
May 9, 2009 at 4:52 a.m.
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The city is increasing chlorine in the water, as mentioned in the previous Latest News Blog entry and in the City's press release.
Visit the city's website for more info throughout the day, and try signing up for an email alert from the city. That seems to have worked for various commenters on the blogs.
http://www.ci.janesville.wi.us/citysite/...
Also, this kind of situation is not uncommon around the country. (Although only about once in 30 years for Janesville) As Dan Lynch said Friday night, it happens every day and Friday just happened to be Janesville's day.
Hope this helps.
Beth Wheelock
May 9, 2009 at 3:04 a.m.
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Chlorine kills the E.Coli bacteria and the water is already chlorinated. They are increasing the amount of Chlorine to further irradicate the bacteria. You are actually not bathing in "fecal water". Escherichia coli (commonly E. coli) is a Gram negative bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded animals. Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some can cause serious food poisoning in humans, and are occasionally responsible for costly product recalls. The most affected are those with weak immune systems such as infants, the elderly and with chronic diseases. The harmless strains are part of the normal flora of the gut, and can benefit their hosts by producing vitamin K2, or by preventing the establishment of pathogenic bacteria within the intestine. So relax, just take the precautions listed on the website. I have made plenty of trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and drank from the lakes using a small amount of bleach to sanitize the water and have never had an issue with E.Coli. The city will have the problem under control in no time. There are alot worse things out there that can harm you.
May 9, 2009 at 2:11 a.m.
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This has me creeped out really. I'm sure most of Janesville is in bed at this hour so for those in the affected area, did you actually bathe or shower in the fecal water? The question and answer session says it is safe but how can it be? Really! And its ok to wash your dishes in it and once the water dries, it disappears? I want to believe this but it doesnt seem posssible. Can someone comment if those statements are really accurate??
May 9, 2009 at 12:16 a.m.
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Now, can I lance this boil order?
May 8, 2009 at 10:22 p.m.
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Yikes! Not a good thing.
Okay. I know it is a serious concern but even serious things can have a silly twist. Here are partial quotes from the article and please be aware that I have done some juxtaposition.
Question: "How do I know if my water is contaminated?."
Answer: "It's unclear."
Question: "How did E. Coli get into my water?"
Answer: "It's unclear."
Now, to be serious about many things happening in Janesville, the answer is, "It's unclear." JMO
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