E.coli detected in Isle aux Morts water a 'shocker,' says town official

A town on Newfoundland's southwest coast has been scrambling to find drinkable water for its residents after E.coli was detected in the community's water supply, a town official said Friday.

Isle aux Morts announced on its Facebook page Wednesday that E.coli had been detected in the water building, near the town's fire hall. People use the potable water-dispensing unit, which purifies water, to fill up bottles for their own use.

At the time, the town was told the tap was still safe to drink, but Deputy Mayor Thomas Herritt said they were contacted Thursday and told not to drink from it.

"They called back and said they missed the sample and it tested positive as well," Herritt told CBC News on Friday morning.

Herritt said two people in the town are sick but he couldn't say if it's related to E.coli exposure. The situation has been a "shocker" for the community, he said.

"The full town is affected."

However, a government official is disputing that both water supplies have tested positive for E.coli.

Gina MacArthur, a spokesperson for the Department of Digital Government and Service N.L., told CBC News in an email Thursday evening that a routine test on the town's potable water-dispensing unit came back positive for E.coli on Aug. 21.

"Standard protocol requires additional testing from the same site to confirm the presence of E coli. Out of an abundance of caution the [potable water dispensing unit] has been temporarily taken out of service," she wrote.

However, MacArthur said a test on the tap water came back negative for E.coli and is still safe to drink. "Therefore at this time, there is no active boil water advisory for the Town of Isle aux Morts," she added.

Herritt told CBC Radio's Newfoundland Morning town officials don't know how long E.coli was present in the town's water, adding it could have been a week or more.

At this point, Herritt said, officials don't know the source of the contamination. He said another test was to be carried out Friday, with results expected within a few days.

Exposure to E.coli bacteria can cause nausea, vomiting, mild fever, headaches and severe stomach cramps as well as watery or bloody diarrhea. Severe cases can lead to hospitalization or even death.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, symptoms can last from five to 10 days. People who contract E.coli are advised to drink plenty of fluids to replace lost fluid.

Water bottles handed out

With no safe sources of water in Isle aux Morts, Herritt said the town brought in bottles of water Thursday for residents.

"We're trying to get a water truck to bring in clean drinking water as well," he said.

However, he said the town needs a better plan. The town's water treatment plant is being cleaned and the filter is being changed.

"We're hoping this next test is going to come back negative, and Sunday or Monday will be back on track."

In the meantime, Herritt is asking residents in the town of about 560 people to be patient. He said the town could be facing a huge obstacle if it needs to upgrade or repair its existing water system.

"We're definitely going to need help from the government somewhere because those small towns can't get in all this," he said. "We're doing the best we can here. We will do whatever we can to help them out anyway." 

A post on Isle aux Mort's Facebook page advises people how to follow a boil-advisory, though a government advisory is not in place.

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