Carey residents warned to boil water

Water samples taken last week in the Carey Water and Sewer District from the public drinking water system indicate the presence of Total Coliform bacteria.

The results mean the drinking water system may have become contaminated and could pose a threat to public health. The samples were also analyzed for Fecal Coliform and E. Coli, but those results were negative.

Users should either boil water used for consumption for five minutes or secure drinking water from another approved source.

Efforts are under way to determine the cause of the contamination. Chlorine is currently being added and lines are being flushed in an attempt to clean out the system.

When two consecutive days of sampling indicate no problem remains, the contamination alert will be canceled. Additional samples will be drawn next month to insure the bacteria does not return.