Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: April 22, 2005
Contact: Mary Jo Takach (office: 401-222-7822, cell: 401-623-0479)

Public Health Update:
Status of the East Providence Water System and Boil Water Advisory

The boil water advisory for consumers of the East Providence Water System is still in effect. The advisory was issued after routine testing detected the presence of bacteria associated with contamination by human or animal wastes. HEALTH officials are continuing to work in close cooperation with the City of East Providence to resolve this situation.

Today, HEALTH provided a recommended course of action to the City of East Providence. The boil water advisory must remain in place until all appropriate steps have been taken to identify and remediate the source of bacteria in the water supply. If the necessary changes in operations are completed and sampling data shows satisfactory water quality, the boil advisory may be lifted sometime on May 4, 2005.

As a reminder, residents should not use milk jugs, juice bottles or soft drink bottles to store clean drinking water; clean water should be stored in drinking water bottles only.

For more information, contact the East Providence Water System (401-435-7741) or HEALTH's Office of Drinking Water Quality (401-222-6867) during regular working hours. For general information please go to www.health.ri.gov .