DPW issues Boil Water Advisory for parts of Baltimore after E. coli detected

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Department of Public Works has issued a Boil Water Advisory for parts of Baltimore and Baltimore County after E. coli was identified in water samples taken in several West Baltimore buildings.

The bacteria was identified at a firehouse and two police facilities in the 9th District, which includes the Sandtown-Winchester and Harlem Park neighborhoods. No illnesses have been reported. 

A Required Boil Water Advisory is in effect for areas within the following boundaries: Riggs Avenue to W. Franklin Street from north to south and Carey Street to Pulaski Street from east to west.

About 1,500 residential and commercial buildings in that area are impacted, the agency said.

Water should be brought to a "rolling boil" for at least one minute to kill any bacteria, making it safe for the following activities: drinking, brushing teeth, washing fruits and vegetables, preparing baby food and formula, making ice, giving to pets, washing dishes, and preparing food.

The agency issued a Precautionary Boil Water Advisory for locations east of the impacted area, into communities such as Reservoir Hill and Bolton Hill; west of the impacted area, into neighborhoods such as Mosher and Rosemont; and southwest through Violetville and Morrell Park into parts of Baltimore County.

An interactive version of the above map can be found here.

An earlier version included some locations of Anne Arundel County, but the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works clarified the jurisdiction no longer purchases water from the city.

Crews were handing out jugs of water to residents in West Baltimore on Monday afternoon, but the supply quickly dwindled, leaving father Steven Cooper worrying what he'll do.

"So now we gotta go out and buy bottled water ourselves," he said.

Some, like Harlem Park resident Lanthia, felt uninformed and underserved.

"Have somebody to come out and let us reassure that everything is gonna be fine and give us some idea how long this process is going to be and if we have to get tested, that's the other issue," she said.

DPW notes tests taken at nearly 20 sites have not shown any contaminants, including samples from the city, western Baltimore County and northern Howard County.

An interactive version of the above map is available here.

At a press conference Monday night, Mayor Brandon Scott said city officials learned of a possible positive test for E. coli on Saturday and had the sample retested, per emergency protocol. Once the result was confirmed, the public was notified, he said.

The union president representing city firefighters said he knew about the contamination on Sunday.

"I received a phone call from our assistant chief around 3:30 yesterday afternoon," said Rich Langford, president of Baltimore Firefighters Local 734.

City officials are still trying to determine the source of the contamination.

"But I can assure you that we are working actively to determine the exact extent of the issue, identify the source and resume the delivery of clean water to our residents in the impacted area," Scott said.

Tests taken a month ago in the same part of West Baltimore came back normal, said Yosef Kebede, head of DPW's Bureau of Water and Wastewater.

DPW Director Jason Mitchell said the agency will continue testing within the impacted West Baltimore area, as well as sites that have come up negative. Results take about 24 hours.

The agency is also working to detect any leaks in the impacted area and identify construction projects that may have affected the water system, he said.

"We are confident that these positive test results are not associated with our three water treatment plants. They are and they have been operating within permit guidelines," Mitchell said.

Kebede said water at the plants is tested every two hours and samples have met clean water standards.

Mitchell added the contamination is not associated with the city's treatment of wastewater.

DPW said it is increasing the chlorination in the area, as well as flushing the system continuously and other treatment methods.

"Chlorine is the best tool that we have to ensure that bacteria are eaten up or destroyed in the distribution system," said Kebede.

According to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, E. coli is a group of bacteria found in the environment, foods, and intestines of people and animals. The agency said most E. coli are harmless, but others can make you sick. 

Some strains can cause diarrhea, while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness, pneumonia, and other illnesses.

The Baltimore City Health Department said anyone who's been exposed to the contaminated water should monitor for symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea.

Adults should seek medical care if they cannot keep liquids down for 24 hours, are vomiting blood, have blood in their stool, are experiencing severe stomach pain, have a fever above 104 degrees, or are vomiting or experiencing diarrhea for more than two days, the health department said.

For infants and children, parents should call a healthcare provider if their child has a fever above 102 degrees, has bloody diarrhea, is in a lot of pain, seems dehydrated, or is very tired and irritable, the agency said.

Baltimore City Public Schools said students and staff at six schools will receive hand sanitizer to use when they have to wash their hands and bottled water to drink. Additionally, meals will be prepared off site.

The impacted schools are
- Furman Templeton Preparatory Academy
- Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School
- Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West
- Frederick Elementary School
- Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts
- Career Academy 

The city provides water and wastewater services to 1.8 million homes and businesses in the region, covering all of Baltimore City, large parts of Baltimore County, and portions of Carroll, Howard and Harford counties.

James Wallace, deputy chief of the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management, said the city's emergency operations are fully activated and will be for the duration of this incident.

The city will continue to distribute bottled water at Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School on Tuesday. A donation from Nestle and assistance from agencies across the region will allow the city to set up other locations.

"We're going to provide as much water as humanly possible," Scott said.