Fecal bacteria was discovered in a well operated by the Aquarion Water Co., prompting an alert to be sent to residents in Beacon Falls, Oxford, and Seymour.
A small amount of E. coli was discovered after routine testing Nov. 7. The results arrived Nov. 9.
The well — located in Oxford — was taken offline and chlorinated. It was scheduled to be tested again Wednesday (Nov. 15).
E. coli was not found in the water distribution system, said Peter Fazekas, director of public relations for the Aquarion Water Co.
The “raw” water from the well is treated prior to entering customers’ houses.
The discovery is also not connected a report of E. coli being found in at the Pleasant Valley Plaza on Route 67 in Oxford.
That is a private well, not part of the Aquarion distribution system.
Water company employees are “checking the sanitary integrity of our water supply infrastructure to identify possible sources of infiltration,” according to a letter dated Nov. 10.
Fazekas said the combination of wildlife in the area and recent heavy rain most likely washed the contaminant into the well.
The well in question was previously tested in mid-October. No contaminants were found at that time.
“The key point is that there was no detection of E. coli in people’s water, because that water is treated,” Fazekas said.
The well in question is part of a larger system serving 13,000 people in Beacon Falls, Oxford, and Seymour. That well, along with other wells in the area, supply 56 percent of the 1.3 million gallons of water used daily in the area.
Information sent to Aquarion customers is embedded below:
Raw Water Letter by The Valley Indy on Scribd
Aquarion Notice by The Valley Indy on Scribd
