Langley officials determine E. coli case isolated

The city of Langley detected E. coli bacteria Tuesday at a residential location during a monthly coliform bacteria testing done the day before.

An advisory to boil water was rescinded Friday after officials determined that the contamination was confined to just one site.

Mayor Tim Callison said the positive test was found at a home off Bittsberry Circle, just outside of Langley city limits near Saratoga Road. To ensure the test wasn’t a false positive, another test was taken at the same site and came back positive on Wednesday.

Neighboring residences, city wells and other locations were all tested for the bacteria and came back negative. So far, only the one Bittsberry Circle residence has shown a positive for E. coli.

“We strongly believe that it’s isolated to this one location, this one property,” Callison said.

Under direction from the state Department of Health, Langley had issued a notice to everyone on the city’s water system to boil their water for at least one minute before using or consuming it.

According to the notice, boiled or purchased bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation until further notice.

E. coli can cause people to feel sick and experience short-term effects such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms.

As of Thursday afternoon, Public Works Director Stan Berryman and Callison said they have not received any reports of citizens getting sick.

Langley will be increasing the chlorination of water in the system to eliminate the bacteria.