Town of Whitman Provides Clarification on Boil Water Order

WHITMAN — The Town of Whitman, in coordination with the Whitman Department of Public Works and Board of Health, wishes to provide residents with information regarding a boil water order.

On Friday, May 16, the Abington Rockland Joint Water Works distributed an announcement about routine water samples containing coliform and E. coli bacteria, stating that the notice applied to customers in Abington, Rockland, Pembroke, Hanson, Hingham and Whitman.

The Town of Whitman wishes to clarify that the boil water order is limited strictly to drinking water for customers on Danecca Drive and does not affect the entire town.

“We want to clarify that this boil water order only applies to Abington Rockland Joint Water Works customers in the Town of Whitman located on Danecca Drive,” Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter said. “This order does not impact the vast majority of water customers in town.”

Customers who live on Danecca Drive in Whitman are advised not to drink tap water at this time without boiling it first, or to use bottled water instead. They are also asked to discard all ice, beverages, uncooked foods, and formula made with tap water collected on or before Wednesday, May 14.

In its announcement, Abington Rockland Joint Water Works stated that total coliform bacteria were found in two routine samples collected on Monday, May 12. Then, one of six repeat samples collected by the utility on Wednesday, May 14, contained total coliform and E. coli bacteria. This constitutes an E. coli maximum contaminant level violation, requiring the boil-water order.

The boil-water order primarily impacts customers in Abington, Rockland, Pembroke, Hanson and parts of Hingham that are directly served by Abington Rockland Joint Water Works.

“These bacteria can make you sick and are especially a concern for people with weakened immune systems,” according to a statement by Abington Rockland Joint Water Works. “Bacterial contamination can occur when increased run-off enters the drinking water source, for example, following heavy rains. It can also happen due to a break in the distribution system (pipes) or a failure in the water treatment process.”

Abington Rockland Joint Water Works further stated that it will be conducting systemwide sampling of all sources, treatment plants and the distribution system.

“Chlorination residuals at all treatment plant locations have been increased as a preventative measure and flushing of the distribution system will continue,” according to the statement from Abington Rockland Joint Water Works.

Abington Rockland Joint Water Works will inform customers when tests show no bacteria and that it is safe to drink tap water without boiling it. They expect the issue will be resolved within 48-72 hours.

Click here to read the full text of the boil-water order released on Friday, May 16, by Abington Rockland Joint Water Works.

For more information, please contact the Abington/Rockland Joint Water Works Superintendent Kristel Cameron at 781-878-0901. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791, or the EPA Ground Water and Drinking Water website: www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water.

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