Central Water Works Issues Boil Water Notice Due To E. Coli Bacteria; Order Includes Century Prison

May 14, 2020

Central Water Works has issued boil water notice effective immediately due to the detection of E. coli bacteria. The warning includes not only the utility’s customers, but also the Century Correctional Institution.

Central is currently supplying the Century prison with water through an emergency fire hose connection after the failure of the Century water well that normally supplies the prison. At last report, prison inmates were not consuming the water from Central but were being provided with bottled water.

In a notice, Central Water Works said, “Fecal coliform [or E. coli] bacteria were found in some of the groundwater and distribution system samples taken on April 8, 2020. These bacteria can make you sick, and are a particular concern for people with weakened immune systems.”

All customers of Central Water Works were advised to not drink the water without boiling it first for at least one minute.

On the date of the sample — April 8 — Central was not supplying water to the prison.

Click here to read the complete boil water notice and instructions.

Central Water Works was founded in 1965 and provides water for about 1,000 members in Byrneville, McDavid and outside the municipal service areas of Century and Flomaton.

Comments

13 Responses to “Central Water Works Issues Boil Water Notice Due To E. Coli Bacteria; Order Includes Century Prison”

  1. William Shivers on May 16th, 2020 11:07 pm

    Water samples for E. Coli have results the next day! This is standard! The sample does not have to be sent anywhere, it is a standard, on-hand routine test that gives results within 18-24 hours. It is not expensive at all, and is mandatory to be used frequently by all Water Systems. And people HAVE been getting sick! And we had NO notice. Diarrhea, Urinary Tract Infections, and even bacterial pneuomonia can be caused by E. Coli. These have been occuring, but people did not know about the water contamination, so did not know to tell their health provider when they sought medical attention. Therefore they were not tested for E. Coli bacterial infection. NOW THAT EVERYONE KNOWS, IF YOU GET SICK PLEASE REQUEST TO BE TESTED FOR E. COLI!! I have a family member (in good health) who had the pneumonia, was tested for COVID-19 which was negative. They were given a Z-pack and it cleared it right up quickly, as it was bacterial! Anyone who gets the E. Coli pneumonia or other illness will test negative for COVID-19. COVID-19 is a virus. E. coli is a bacteria. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE, THERE IS NO EXCUSE POSSIBLE FOR FAILURE TO ALERT CUSTOMERS IMMEDIATELY ON APRIL 9, 2020.

  2. Polly on May 16th, 2020 6:02 pm

    Just wondering…if the test on April 6 was contaminated and they didn’t notify us until May 14, wondering if it was the CCI problem was the only reason we were notified. If that had not happened we would still be using and drinking the water. Not dead yet so reckon it’s ok

  3. LM on May 16th, 2020 4:23 pm

    III. TYPES OF INCIDENTS
    A. Microbiological Contamination.

    1. A precautionary boil water notice shall always be issued in cases where confirmatory water samples indicate the presence of fecal coliform bacteria, E. coli, or other waterborne pathogens. The presence of such indicates an acute threat to the public’s health and warrants immediate action by the public water system and public health officials to alert consumers..

  4. David Huie Green on May 15th, 2020 11:02 pm

    This is not the best way to inspire confidence — not the worst, but definitely not the best.. Meanwhile I keep drinking tap water, no reason to stop after this long.

    To be honest, disinfectant is put in the water to kill stray bacteria — or it SHOULD be in there.

    David for jobs well done

  5. William Reynolds on May 15th, 2020 6:47 pm

    “Why hasn’t the Town of Century been calling it’s customers to make sure everyone knows about the water not being safe to consume?”

    Because the boil water notice does not apply to Town of Century customers. It’s Central Water Works.

  6. A. Croley on May 15th, 2020 6:38 pm

    Why hasn’t the Town of Century been calling it’s customers to make sure everyone knows about the water not being safe to consume? Don’t they have a responsibility to let their customers know? April 8th to May 14th or longer since I personally just found out today. I think the Town of Century owes us a refund for all the water we’ve used.

  7. Chelleepea on May 15th, 2020 10:20 am

    No matter what you say about Century’s service…..we rarely get a boil notice.

  8. Knarf on May 15th, 2020 8:47 am

    So customers have been drinking contaminated water for 36 days and apparently not sick so why boil it now? We must have developed an immunity to the E coli contaminated drinking water. Of course there is always an upside to most situations and this one? Won’t have to buy fertilizer while this problem exists.
    36 days after a sample was taken? Very hard to understand. Seems there should have been some high priority procedure to the testing and results and customer alert..
    Wondering why it took 36 days to send out an alert.

  9. Kidney kid on May 15th, 2020 7:37 am

    This could be completely unrelated, but I am a Central water works customer, and have recently (last week) visited my primary doctor with side pains. I was diagnosed with “a pretty bad kidney infection” and was given antibiotics to take for a few days.
    This is not the first time Central Water Works has failed to issue a boil water notice in a timely manner.
    Wondering who they have to answer to for such a delayed response that could cause customers health issues???

  10. sam on May 15th, 2020 7:27 am

    well there has been very little rain run off to cause it so there must be a leak. GREAT!

  11. Kevin on May 14th, 2020 7:48 pm

    So the sample was pulled a month ago and tested and ecoli was detected in the sample and water people decided a month later to let the customers know about poop in their drinking water. I find it hard to believe it takes a month to get results back on water samples. How many times has the water been tested since then? I’m assuming water is still not clean due to present boil notice. Why did it take so long to give the boil notice?

  12. Local customer on May 14th, 2020 7:38 pm

    WOW over a month ago and just now being notified!!! What about what has been consumed since April?

  13. SW on May 14th, 2020 6:35 pm

    Soooo, the samples from 4/8 are contaminated and we hear about it on 5/14?
    Guess if you’re not sick by now, you’re not gonna be.
    Unless they blame illnesses on Covid?