Deerfield Residents Warned To Boil Water After Finding Of Bacterial Contamination
DEERFIELD, Ill. (CBS) -- North suburban Deerfield has issued a boil order for residents because of a bacterial contamination was found in the water supply.
Deerfield Residents Warned To Boil Water After Finding Of Bacterial Contamination
Residents of Deerfield will have to use boiled water or use bottled water until at least Wednesday at noon. That is because fecal coliform bacteria was found in the water supply.
"Fecal coliform is a bacteria that can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms," said Andrew Lichterman, assistant to the village manager.
Lichterman says boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dished and food preparation. This type of bacteria can occur when there is increased runoff into the water supply or there is a break into the distribution system.
The village will be conducting tests throughout the next 24 hours.
Neighbors in Deerfield are stocking up on all the bottled drinking water they can get.
"It's been insane. It's like World War Three," said Deerfield resident Lily Fieger.
She says she headed to the nearest Jewel Osco store as customers cleared the shelves and workers kept the new cases coming.
"It was like they were bringing more out, everyone was freaking out. It was crazy," said Fieger.
The Ketz family knows the bacteria could make their two-year-old twins really sick.
"I didn't know what to do with the kids. In terms of bathing them, in terms of feeding them," said David Ketz.
"I was thinking maybe coffee would be boiled, but I wasn't sure," said Leigh Rosenberg.
Next door, Bobby's Restaurant can't use the tap, so they've ordered emergency ice and countless bottles of water to try to serve what they can.
"All of our ice is being replaced. All of our soda cans pops and what not are coming in so we've got everything covered," said Bobby's Manager Benny Arifi.
