Important Information About Your Drinking Water

Tests Show Coliform Bacteria in Water Supplied by:
PWS# RI1592023
Prudence Island Water District
P.O. Box 93, Prudence Island, RI 02872

The Prudence Island Water District water system recently exceeded the Microbiological Maximum Contaminant Level standard.  Although this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to correct this situation.

We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. One (1) sample for coliform bacteria was collected on 8/16/11 and five(5) additional samples for coliform bacteria were collected on 08/18/2011. A total of three (3) samples showed the presence of coliform bacteria.  The standard is that no more than one (1) sample per month may do so.

What should I do?

• You do not need to boil the water or take other corrective actions.  However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.  People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk.  These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426-4791.

What does this mean?

• This is not an emergency. If it had been you would have been notified immediately.  Total coliform bacteria are generally not harmful themselves.  Coliforms are bacteria which are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present.  Coliforms were found in more samples than allowed and this was a warning of potential problems.

• Usually, coliforms are a sign that there could be a problem with the treatment or distribution system.  Whenever we detect coliform bacteria in any sample, we do follow-up testing to see if other bacteria of greater concern, such as fecal coliform or E. coli, are present.  We did not find any of these bacteria in our subsequent testing.  If we had, we would have notified you immediately.  However, we are still finding coliforms in the drinking water.

What happened? Unknown.

What is being done? System-wide disinfection will be carried out.

We are still detecting coliform bacteria.  We will inform you when our sampling shows that no bacteria are present.  We anticipate resolving the problem within 10 (ten)days.

For more information, please contact William Capron at 401-835-0475 or PO Box 93, Prudence Island, RI  02872

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses).  You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

This notice is being sent to you by Prudence Island Water District

PWS ID#: RI1592023

Date posted: 9/6/11