Aspen Lakes coliform 'hit' not a danger

Residents of Aspen Lakes were using bottled or boiled water after a routine test last week showed coliform bacteria in the subdivision's water system.

"We ended up with a positive hit for total coliform," said Matt Cyrus of Aspen Lakes. "We've been chlorinating since Saturday."

Cyrus said the chlorine disinfectant was being flushed on Tuesday, which would leave the system ready to be re-tested.

Homeowners were issued with a notice to boil water - which Deschutes County Environmental Health Specialist Jeff Freund said was more than was required.

"The boiled water alert is only required if there is confirmed e coli -and that's a whole next step up," he said. "They were being extra cautious."

Total coliform is a measurement to determine if any bacteria has infiltrated a sealed system.

"These bugs show up in water quite frequently because they are a species that are found everywhere," Freund said.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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