Video SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — A boil water advisory is in place for parts of South Kingstown and Narragansett due to the detection of E. coli bacteria in five public water systems, the Department of Health announced Friday.
UPDATE: Narragansett Fire says it could take days to fix the problem.
Health officials said about 38,000 customers are affected.
The water systems affected under the boil water advisory are: Suez Water (customers with questions should contact Chris Jacobs at 401-316-2201) Narragansett – Point Judith (customers with questions should contact the Police Department at 401-789-1091 or the Water Department at 401-782-0639) Narragansett – North End supplied by Suez Water (customers with questions should contact the Police Department at 401-789-1091 or the Water Department at 401-782-0639) South Kingstown – South Shore (customers with questions should contact the Police Department at 401-783-3321) South Kingstown – Middlebridge (customers with questions should contact the Police Department at 401-783-3321) The Health Department said affected customers should boil vigorously, for at least one minute, all water used for consumption.
These recommendations pertain to water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation.
Health officials said infants and young children should not be bathed in this water because they may swallow it accidentally.
E. coli is bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal waste.
However, the University of Rhode Island’s Bay Campus is impacted by this advisory.
Earlier this week, a portion of Narragansett Bay was closed off to shellfishing after a sewage line collapsed, causing approximately 300,000 gallons of sewage to overflow.
On Friday, the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) reduced the shellfishing closure to only the two-mile stretch of Warwick coast in the upper Narragansett Bay.

The Princeton Water Utility has issued a precautionary boil advisory for several customers after a water main break.
The boil advisory is for all customers along S. Washington St., S. Adams St., S. Jefferson St., south of E. Illinois St., and 700 to 1300 blocks of E. Ohio St. Officials advise customers to bring all cooking and drinking water to a complete boil for five minutes before using.
Customers should continue to boil their water until they are notified that it is no longer necessary.
For more information, contact Princeton Utilities at (812) 385-3343.
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(This story was originally published on September 3, 2018)

The precautionary boil alert was issued on Monday afternoon due to crews cutting out a 4-foot section of pipe in the city on Monday morning.
The boil advisory is in effect for Girard water customers living on Shelby Street, South Randolph Street, Skoplee Street and South State Street to 1025 S. State Street.
The boil alert will be in effect until further notice.
Customers should bring their water to a rolling boil before consuming.

Officials with the Miawpukek First Nation in Conne River are celebrating a big step with the removal of a long-term boil water advisory — and are hoping this time, it lasts.
The First Nation, along with the federal government, lifted a four-year boil water advisory in June, thanks to upgrades to the town’s water treatment plant and water lines.
It was the fifth boil water advisory issued in the community on Newfoundland’s south coast since 2007, and the longest, according to Glen Benoit, the director of public works with the First Nation.
"I only have heard a few people say, ‘It’s about time,’" said Chief Mi’sel Joe.
Before that date, tap water in the community bypassed the First Nation’s water treatment plant.
Joe said people in his community are "frustrated" by the constant boil water advisories, "off and on, off and on."
"I’d say, probably 50 per cent of the time, we’ve been on boil water advisory since 2004," added Benoit.
Watch a community information session on the end of the boil water advisory All copper lines in the community are being replaced, and the plant has also added a new UV filtration system — he said both were "major things" toward lifting the boil water advisory.
"It takes a long time to gain confidence back, but it doesn’t take very long to lose it, I’ll tell you that."
"It’s extremely important," said Joe.

The City of Clarkton is scheduling the water to be shut off on Wednesday, Aug. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to replace a fire hydrant on Murray Street.
The city will then be under a boil water advisory.
Dunklin County Water District #2 has issued a boil water order on Monday, Aug. 20 for all customers south and east of the intersection of Highway 108 and County Road 626.
The city of Morehouse has issued a boil water order on Wednesday, Aug. 29 until further notice.
400 Block of Moore Street and 500 Block of Moore Street.
Ridge Top Water, Wappapello in Wayne County, Missouri is under a boil water advisories per Mike Johnson, Chief Water Operator.
Jackson County A boil water order between Power Plant Road and Lower Shut Road in Grand Tower was issued on Thursday, August 9.
This boil water advisory does not include the city of Grand Tower.
The boil water order issued by Millstone Water District has been lifted on Friday, August 17 for customers at the insection of Highway 146 and Shedville Road.
Pulaski County

NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – A boil water notice was issued at 10 a.m. Wednesday for people who live between Forest Avenue and Florida Boulevard, the Neptune Beach Boulevard Department said.
A scheduled repair of a fire hydrant prompted the advisory.
Those living in the area, which is near Neptune Beach Elementary School, should boil their water until further notice, police said.
There’s no word on when the advisory will be lifted.
Copyright 2018 by WJXT News4Jax – All rights reserved.

– (8/29/2018) If you live in Franklin Parish and get your water from The South Bayou Macon Water System, you are now under a boil advisory.
They recommend everyone disinfect the water before consuming it.
Below is the full press release from The South Bayou Macon Water System: The SOUTH BAYOU MACON Water System, Inc. is experiencing problems with the water supply system.
Therefore, as a precaution, the SOUTH BAYOU MACON Water System, Inc is issuing a BOIL ADVISORY effective immediately for the entire system.
This BOIL ADVISORY is to remain in effect until rescinded by the SOUTH BAYOU MACON Water System, Inc It is recommended that all consumers disinfect their water before consuming it (including fountain drinks), making ice, brushing teeth, or using it for food preparation or rinsing of foods by the following means: Boil water for one (1) full minute in a clean container.
(The flat taste can be eliminated by shaking the water in a clean bottle or pouring it from one clean container to another.
Upon notification from the Office of Public Health’s State Regional Laboratory that the samples collected from our water supply have been found to be safe, the State Health Department will notify the water supply of the sample results.
Upon such notification, the SOUTH BAYOU MACON WATER SYSTEM, INC. will then rescind the Boil Advisory and notify its customers that the water has been found to be safe.
Boil Advisory Guidelines for Food Service Operations All retail food establishments should voluntarily close if they do not have water provided Minimize food preparation and bare hand contact with ready to eat foods Use single service utensils Use bottled water from an approved source for drinking or follow boil advisory Suggested hand-washing instructions using two (2) buckets of boiled or bottled water from an approved source: 1.
Use second bucket as hand dip well containing 100 ppm free chlorine or 25 ppm iodine or 200 ppm quaternary ammonia Disconnect or turn valves off to water supply lines for ice machines, dip wells, coffee machines, fountain drinks, Icee machines, or any other machines requiring a direct potable water line connection Dump ice bin and clean with an approved sanitizer Use only boiled water or bottled water from an approved source for washing dishes/utensils in a three (3) compartment sink – do not use a mechanical dish machine Follow the water boil advisory until notification from the Office of Public Health that the water is safe for human consumption

MONTROSE, Mich. –Montrose is under a boil water advisory until further notice.
City officials say the system lost pressure around 1 a.m. Monday.
If you live in Montrose, you should boil your water before drinking it.
We’ll be sure to update you when the advisory is lifted.

MONTROSE, MI – A loss of water pressure overnight has led Montrose officials to declare a boil water advisory for all city residents.
The large-scale depressurization took place on the water main along M-57 which may have allowed bacteria into the city’s system.
"The advisory covers the whole city as the level of depressurization is unknown at this time," according to a message posted on the city’s website, noting the advisory has been issued as a precautionary measure.
Residents are advised to boil water for seven minutes prior to use for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and washing dishes, or use bottled water.
The advisory will remain in effect until the county’s Waste and Water Services and the city of Montrose determine the water is safe to use.
Anyone with questions about the issue may reach the city of Montrose at 810-639-6168.

By Scott StaffordThe Berkshire Eagle ADAMS — All water tests taken since the boil water order was issued Thursday have come up clear of any contaminants, but for now the advisory remains in effect until the state officially removes it, according to John Barrett, superintendent of the Adams Fire District.
He said the notice could come today but cautioned that the boil order is still in effect for now.
The issue started when samples taken on Aug. 20 came back the next day with an E. coli presence detected in the town water tank, Barrett said.
Resampling was done that day on the tank and the surrounding water system, and the results issued on Wednesday showed no signs of E. coli but did show the presence of total coliform bacteria at two homes adjacent to the water tank, which automatically sparked the boil water order.
He noted that all of these actions are required by DEP regulations.
All samples since then, Barrett noted, have been clear of any contaminants after being tested in a state lab.
Restaurants were hit especially hard.
As a result of this incident, the town and the fire district, which has authority over the water system, will be examining ways to improve communication between both organizations, and communications to town residents in emergency situations.
The town government has no authority over the Adams Fire District, noted John Duval, chairman of the Adams Select Board.
"The town and the fire district have to meet so we can have a plan for such incidents in the future," Duval said.