Water in Apache Tests Positive for E. Coli

Residents in Apache are under a mandatory 72-hour boil advisory after one of the city's six wells tested positive for E. coli.

Tuesday, September 14th 2010, 11:00 pm

By: News 9


News9.com

APACHE, Oklahoma -- Residents in Apache are under a mandatory 72-hour boil advisory after one of the city's six wells tested positive for E. coli.

Boone-Apache School District officials said school is canceled Wednesday because of the water situation.

Apache Fire Chief David Johnson said the 2,000 residents in the town should not drink any tap water from the city unless it is boiled.

The Apache Community Center at Evans and Oak Street is open to hand out bottled water to residents who need it. About 200 residents have stopped by to pick up cases of water at the community center.

City officials will also be going door-to-door to check on residents Wednesday.

"Ninety-nine percent of the time the testing is human error," said Mike Love, Apache water official. "I have enough faith in the water that me and my grandkids are still drinking it, but since the one sample found a case of e. Coli, we're going through the proper procedures just to be safe."

Long time resident Bernice Priest-Willcox said she's very concerned about the water.

"I've been boiling water all day and I can't use my filter anymore," said Priest-Willcox. "I've been drinking bottled water to be safe. How am I going to brush my teeth? I'm going to use it to shower though, that's not going to stop me from getting ready; I got things to do."

Local water officials are hoping to re-test the water first thing Thursday morning. The schools will be open Thursday since they have enough bottled water supplies, according to school officials.

The National Guard from Anadarko is expected to deliver potable water for the city's use by Wednesday evening.

Johnson said there have been no reports of anyone getting sick from E. coli in the town.

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