State issues order to boil


April 30, 2009 · Updated 11:12 AM 

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By Kevin Hanson-The Courier-herald

Customers of the Y Bar S water system in rural Enumclaw were advised to begin boiling their water last week because E. coli bacteria had been discovered during a routine sample of drinking water.

The advisory had been formally issued by the state's Department of Health and confirmed in a letter drafted by the water system Oct. 11. It was received by the 105 users of the privately-owned water system Friday.

The Y Bar S development is north of 400th and just a bit west of state Route 169.

The letter received by Y Bar S residents indicated the contamination occurred because of a water outage and loss of pressure in the system. When that happens, “it is possible that contamination from the environment or from human or animal waste may be drawn into the water system,” a form letter stated. “Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms,” the letter added.

The letter noted a hope that the problem would be eliminated by Monday of this week.

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