Ridgewood Water groundwater source tests positive for E. coli

Ridgewood Water groundwater source tests positive for E. coli.
RIDGEWOOD – Ridgewood Water was expected to issue results of new tests Friday, two days after a water sample tested positive for E. coli and led to a boil-water advisory for much of the village and nearby towns.
Customers were not in any danger from using tap water, officials said Thursday morning at a news conference called after the utility notified residents and businesses in affected areas that a groundwater sample had tested positive for E. coli.
"The drinking water warning and boil advisory is an excess of caution," said Ridgewood Water Director of Operations Rich Calbi.
Schools in Ridgewood and Glen Rock were having students bring in bottled water on Thursday and Friday.
Samples of water piped to customers have not tested positive for any bacteria or fecal contamination.
Ridgewood Water received the test results on Wednesday and a notification went out to customers in the affected low-pressure zone, which includes all of Glen Rock and portions of Ridgewood and Wyckoff.
The Valley Hospital is within the affected area of Ridgewood.
Because word of the notification spread quickly, especially on social media, Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen addressed the bewilderment on the part of some residents that they were not told about the contamination, since the alert to boil water went only to those in the affected areas.
Packer said he is hopeful the contamination was a one-off occurrence, but at this time is just looking forward to hearing positive news from Ridgewood Water on Friday.

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