Coliform rising, EPA coming in

Day 13 of Gloucester's water-boil emergency was a step back for the city yesterday, with the latest test results showing water samples taken Monday — when state and local officials regrouped in the first "water summit" — showed the second highest number of bacteria hits since the trouble started.

The tests released yesterday showed 18 out of 38 sites tested came back positive for coliform on Monday. The previous high was 21 out of 28 sites tested on Aug. 21, the day the boil order started.

And as the indefinite boil order drags on, additional layers of outside assistance are adding their voices to the effort — the latest being federal experts from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, who announced to city officials yesterday that they will be arriving soon.

If EPA officials arrive in Gloucester today, they will be greeted by a second "water summit," this one at 10 a.m. at Addison Gilbert Hospital.

Meanwhile, as the federal government becomes involved for the first time, Gloucester's state lawmakers, Sen. Bruce Tarr and Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, asked the state Department of Environmental Protection in a letter released yesterday to "intensify its ongoing efforts" to make sure the city and its water contractor act "in accordance with the best scientific and management approaches available."

Reached by phone yesterday, Tarr said the letter had been drafted without a request from the city.

On top of becoming more active in finding a solution to the coliform problem, Tarr and Ferrante are also asking the state to review how the emergency started — and the municipal response to it.

"While restoring safe drinking water is clearly our first priority, we also believe that accountability and transparency must be attached to this entire situation," the letter said. "Thus, we are also requesting that the DEP conduct a full review of the circumstances leading to the problems which have ensued and all actions taken to address them."

Water tests have still not shown any traces of E. coli or fecal contamination in the water system. But Gloucester still needs two consecutive days of clean water tests followed by a re-evaluation by the state before the boil-order will be lifted — and the city's water samples have not been clear of total coliform since failing a routine test on Aug. 11.

A reaction to persistent coliform bacteria readings in the city drinking water after nearly two weeks of efforts to kill the microbes, Monday's water summit resulted in a plan of attack starting with the recleaning of the Babson water treatment plant.

That cleaning, including the total shutdown, draining and power washing with chlorine of Babson, started Monday and was completed Tuesday night. The plant, the first place in the system to experience water quality issues this summer, was back at full capacity yesterday.

Deputy Fire Chief Miles Schlichte, the city's water emergency spokesman, said yesterday that the Monday results should not be taken as a sign that efforts at Babson were not working. It would be at least a few days before the effects of the latest efforts were known, he said, and even then, a definitive link between any one part of the system and the bacteria traces may be tenuous.

"There are so many moving parts, I don't think we would definitely say which parts will solve the problem," Schlichte said.

The cause of water problems have been a mystery since Babson was shut down after producing cloudy water Saturday, Aug. 15.

But as it becomes more and more likely that Gloucester will enter the weekend under the boil order, the indirect and hidden affects of the problem are piling up.

While there are still no confirmed cases of anyone becoming sick because of the water, Gloucester's only hospital has had to make adjustments without city water.

Since Aug. 18, when the first signs of water trouble were becoming known, Addison Gilbert Hospital has been relocating surgical procedures to other hospitals belonging to parent company Northeast Health System.

So far, 13 surgeries have been relocated along with 17 of the video intestinal examinations known as endoscopies, according to a spokesperson for Northeast Health System.

One admitted patient's kidney dialysis treatments have also been moved and one patient's ventilator treatments were sent elsewhere.

Addison Gilbert is using bottled water for drinking, disposable plates and utensils for meals and disposable wash kits to clean patients.

Patrick Anderson can be reached at panderson@gloucestertimes.com

WATER CRISIS LATEST

Today is Day 14 of the Gloucester boil-water order, issued Aug. 21 by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

More help on the way: The federal Environmental Protection Agency is joining the effort to address the problems.

State role: Sen. Bruce Tarr and Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante have urged the state to "intensify" its role here, and called for a "review" of how the emergency began — and the city's response to it.

Tests: Monday's test results showed total coliform bacteria in 18 of 38 water samples, compared to 11 shown Sunday. The 18 positives for coliform are the city's second highest total to date.

Chlorine battle: City has added a 7th chlorination pumping station to try to drive down the coliform count in the water.

Keep boiling: Boil water order remains "indefinite;" almost certain to go into Labor Day weekend.

Outdoor water ban: Still on, too.

Updates: Look to gloucestertimes.com; sign up for the Times' free text alerts at gloucestertimes.com

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