FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2000
Contacts:
Don Ostler, Director, Division of Water Quality, (801) 538-6047
Bill Damery, Division of Water Quality, (801) 538-6032
The Department of Environmental Quality and the Southwest Utah Public Health Department are encouraging Milford Valley private drinking water well owners to test their drinking water quarterly for total coliform and fecal coliform. Previous water tests have found these types of bacteria to be present from time to time in private wells.
Most bacteria found in water wells are harmless and pose no health risk. However, the presence of fecal coliform may indicate fecal waste contamination in the water, which could pose a health threat to humans, especially those with compromised immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and those with HIV, cancer, or some other serious health condition.
The Utah Drinking Water standard for acceptable drinking water is a total coliform count of zero. Coliform bacteria are a large group of various species of bacteria. They include bacteria that occur naturally in the intestines of warm-blooded animals (fecal coliform) and non-fecal coliform bacteria.
Well owners who find the presence of total coliform or fecal coliform in their well water, no matter the amount, should immediately contact their local health department and consider disinfecting their wells. They should also boil their water for human consumption if fecal coliform is found, and continue this process until consecutive samples indicate fecal-free well water.
To find the source of bacteria in private wells, DEQ recently tested the ground water on behalf of the Milford Valley Ground Water Steering Committee. To date, no "frank" pathogens (bacteria that cause disease in a healthy person) have been found in any of the wells. Furthermore, contrary to a recent news story, no definitive link has been made between bacteria found in private drinking water wells and bacteria in Circle Four lagoons or wells.
"We are working with several agencies to review and more fully understand the latest investigation's conclusions," said Bill Damery, Division of Water Quality environmental scientist.
DEQ and local health departments have no regulatory authority over private wells. Therefore, private well owners have to assume the responsibility of not only testing their water but also maintaining their private wells.
or more information or to report coliform monitoring results from private wells, contact Scott Hacking at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality or Bill Dawson at the Southwest Utah Public Health Department. Both can be reached at (435) 586-2437.