Nearly 60 percent of water samples from 50 private wells in Harris County tested positive for the bacteria commonly found in feces, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, according to preliminary data released Wednesday.
The presence of total coliform, the bacteria found in feces, soil and floodwater, was detected along with the more troubling E. coli.
Virginia Tech noted Wednesday that these samples contain a mix of flooded and non-flooded drinking water wells, as well as non-drinking wells, so the actual rate of contamination associated with flooding could be higher or lower than the preliminary numbers show.
The effort to inform Texans about the safety of their private water wells began in the weeks following Harvey, when Virginia Tech researcher Kelsey Pieper reached out to Texas A&M to offer assistance.
By the end of September, 630 residents from 23 counties had returned sampling kits to researchers for testing, most of which was done in Virginia, said Drew Gholson, AgriLife Service program specialist and network coordinator in College Station.
All individuals who’s water came back positive for contaminants already have been informed, he said, and given information about how to decontaminate them.
Virginia Tech researchers currently are gathering information from residents who submitted samples about how they receive information during flood events, Pieper said.
"We’re asking them what information they want and where they want it available."
In the coming weeks, Gholson said Texas A&M will take up the testing reins as another round of sampling kits are handed out.
He expects Texas researchers to hand out about 2,000 kits, he said, though they are still waiting on federal funding to cover costs.