The Connecticut Water Company issued a mandatory boil-water advisory after routine testing detected E. coli, the station reported. The company named several shoreline communities under the order and advised residents and businesses to boil tap water for one minute and let it cool before drinking, preparing food, making ice, brushing teeth or washing dishes.
The advisory matters because E. coli can cause illness and poses a special risk to infants, young children, some elderly people and people with severely compromised immune systems. The company said the advisory will remain in effect until further notice and urged customers to follow the boil-and-cool guidance to reduce health risks.
Local health officials and the water company did not provide a timeline for when the advisory will be lifted. Residents in affected towns should check Connecticut Water Company updates and local public-health channels for the latest information.