ABINGTON, Mass. — A boil water order is now in effect for areas in several towns in southeastern Massachusetts due to the presence of E. coli and total coliform bacteria in the water supply, public health officials said.
Residents in the towns of Abington, Rockland, Pembroke, Hanson, Whitman and Hingham that are connected to Abington Rockland Joint Water Works public water supply are being asked to boil water before drinking. The order went into effect on Friday.
MassDEP and local officials stressed that the impacted areas in these towns are directly served by the Abington Rockland Joint Water Works public water supply.
“Do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled for at least one minute,” Lindsay Wright, director of Public Health and Emergency Management and a public health nurse for the town of Abington, said in a statement late Friday morning.
“These bacteria can make you sick and are especially a concern for people with weakened immune systems,” according to a statement by Abington Rockland Joint Water Works. “Bacterial contamination can occur when increased run-off enters the drinking water source, for example, following heavy rains. It can also happen due to a break in the distribution system (pipes) or a failure in the water treatment process.”
The only residents in Hingham affected by this order are those on Abington Street near the Rockland line that are connected to Abington-Rockland Joint Water Works, officials said.
Residents in the impacted areas are also being advised to use boiled or bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and cleaning and to discard any food, ice, or beverages made with tap water before May 14.
“We are taking corrective action and expect resolution within 48 to 72 hours,” Wright said.
Hanson has a notice on its website listing the specific streets that get the contaminated water.
Hingham is also identifying the specific area in town.
And Pembroke has identified the street where residents are impacted.
Over in Whitman, town officials said that the boil water order is limited strictly to drinking water for customers on Danecca Drive and does not affect the entire town.
“We want to clarify that this boil water order only applies to Abington Rockland Joint Water Works customers in the Town of Whitman located on Danecca Drive,” Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter said in a statement. “This order does not impact the vast majority of water customers in town.”
Customers who live on Danecca Drive in Whitman are advised not to drink tap water at this time without boiling it first, or to use bottled water instead.
Local residents in impacted communities “will be notified as soon as the boil water order is lifted,” Wright said.
For more information, visit the Abington town website and click on the link for the boil water order information.
Anyone with questions may also call the Abington-Rockland Joint Water Works at 781-878-0901.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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