E. coli bacteria reside in human and animal waste and certain strains can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea and headaches.
The risk of illness is greater for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
Regal Mobile Estates residents who use the water should boil it first before drinking it, preparing meals, washing dishes or brushing their teeth, health officials said.
That company is owned by Hurst & Son LLC, which manages 18 other similar communities in Washington and Idaho.
The company is providing free cases of bottled water for the residents.
“It’s a lot to expect senior citizens to carry 40-pound cases of water to their homes,” he said.
Mosier said he and his neighbors are making the best of the situation, but he worries about the strain it is placing on the tight-knit community, especially on those who have trouble getting around or who have memory problems and may forget the water is contaminated and drink it.
Some have had to come up with creative solutions to move the heavy loads.
One woman who uses an electric wheelchair has been balancing a case of water on her legs to carry it to nearby homes.
“(The owners) have a problem and now they have to proceed with better treatment or a better source,” he said.