By Beth David, Editor
Fairhaven is under a second boil water order, this time with Mattapoisett, Marion, and Rochester, the other towns that make up the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District. The water tested positive for E. Coli again, but this time 12 of the 20 random samples in Fairhaven came back as positive.
The DMRVWD met on Tuesday and discussed ways to disinfect the water to avoid a repeat of the problem. The system has been chlorinated and the lines flushed.
The last round of testing showed there was still E. Coli in Fairhaven and Marion, but not Mattapoisett.
Fairhaven Superintendent Vinnie Furtado said that made sense because the plant is in Mattapoisett, so their lines would be clean first.
All three towns need three consecutive days of zero E. Coli before the boil order can be lifted.
Residents should boil water for one minute or drink bottled water.
The soonest the ban can be lifted is Friday, as sample results are returned the day after they are submitted.
The board also cautioned residents about a company trying to get into homes to test water. The board said the state testing lab is superior,
Mr. Furtado said the board is looking at upgrades to the plant that will include disinfecting the water with ultraviolet light, but that is years away. Meanwhile the water will be chlorinated.
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