According to a news release, after finding E.coli bacteria in a Washington Park reservoir, the Portland Water Bureau (PWB) issued a notice Saturday asking for all affected customers west of the Willamette River, Valley View, Burlington and Palatine Hill water districts to boil all drinking water.
 
There are approximately 50,000-people living in Portland who have been affected.
 
According to the boil water notice, all tap water used for drinking, food preparation and ice in these regions, must be brought to full boil for a minimum of one minute prior to consumption.  Any ice or beverages recently prepared with tap water are to be discarded. And customers in the affected area apart from boiling water have also been advised to purchase filtered and bottled water, until the bureau announces the water supply is safe for consumption.
 
The PWB warning comes in response to E. coli bacteria being detected in Washington Park’s Reservoir 3, which taken out of service Saturday morning is in the midst of being drained out.
 
Officials say this specific strain of E. coli is currently unknown, with little cause of worry as the most dangerous strains associated with serious illness are typically not found in water supplies.  Currently, officials testing the original samples to determine the harmfulness of the strain to humans say, the results can be expected next week.
 
According to Dr. Paul Lewis, Deputy Health Officer for Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties, drinking contaminated water can result in diarrhoea and belly ache, posing a significant health risk for young children and people with weakened immune systems.
 
Dr. Lewis and his staff are working with area medical providers regarding symptoms and appropriate treatments, advising while it is okay to use tap water for bathing purposes, the water is not safe for brushing teeth, nor for their pets to drink it.