The Daily Campus

Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Ryan Sayers A tanker truck at the complex is dispensing clean water to residents.

A strain of E. coli found in the water supply at Willington Oaks apartments on Tuesday is forcing residents to get their water elsewhere.

A "small number" of students went to Student Health Services with gastrointestinal symptoms, according to Robert Miller, director of health for Eastern Highlands Health District, but the cases reported were self-limiting. Miller said it is unknown if the illnesses were caused by the contaminated water.

"It's unnerving knowing there is E. coli in the water," said Sven Englund, a 5th-semester psychology major and a resident of Willington Oaks apartments. "Water is one of the most basic things you expect your landlord to take care of."

The contamination was discovered after state-required routine water testing was conducted during the period of Aug. 1 to Aug. 30, according to Miller. Residents were notified of the results on Sept. 2. The apartments have their own water system that is not connected to any other supply in the area.

New England Realty, the company that manages the property, notified residents of the E. coli by placing a notice from Connecticut Water Company - the privately contracted company that manages the water supply at the apartments - in the doors of all tenants on Tuesday.

The notice warned tenants that the water was not safe to drink, and that they should drink bottled water or boil the water before using it. It also said that the water supply is currently being chlorinated and that retesting would occur next week to ensure water quality.

On Wednesday, New England Realty sent another precautionary notice along with two gallons of fresh water for each apartment. The notice reminded residents to take precautions for drinking, food preparation, making coffee or ice, dishwashing and maintaining oral hygiene.

By Wednesday evening, a water tank was available for residents to use to fill their jugs, according to Englund.

"The strain that's [in the water] doesn't cause disease, but it's presence suggests other disease-causing bacteria in the water," Miller said. "It could be parasites or viruses."

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