Posted on 09/07/22
| News Source: FOX45
Department of Public Works Director Jason Mitchell said all but one of 25 tests at sites across the city and Baltimore County for E.coli water contamination came back negative Wednesday.
However, Mitchell said the boil water advisory remains in effect as a precaution. The single positive test was taken at a police facility at 1034 N. Mount Street, which was one of the sites that initially tested positive last week.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) discovered E.coli contamination during routine testing last week at three police and fire facilities in West Baltimore. Two of those facilities are now testing negative for contamination.
On Monday, Baltimore officials issued a boil water advisory for large parts of the region including southwest Baltimore County and most of West and Southwest Baltimore. Scott said the initial impact area --- roughly two neighborhoods in West Baltimore: Harlem Park and Sandtown-Winchester -- was where residents must boil their water.
Mitchell said results of 90 additional tests from sites in the city and Baltimore County are pending.
Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa said her department is currently investigating two possible cases of illness related to the water contamination. Dr. Dzirasa said the department was working with hospitals in the boil water advisory zone to monitor for possible cases.
Mitchell said the city still does not know what caused the contamination. When asked about a pumping station in Mount Vernon being taken offline as being a possible cause, Mayor Brandon Scott said the city wouldn't be discussing "theories."
City officials said that 53,000 gallons of clean water have been distributed since Monday.