Boil-water order issued after E. coli detected in Connecticut Water tests

Connecticut Water Company said routine testing detected E. coli and has issued a mandatory boil-water order for several towns, the moderator announced during a public-service message.

The company named the affected communities as Deep River, Essex, Haddam, Chester, Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Clinton, Madison and Guilford and advised that anyone who lives or works in those towns should not drink the tap water untreated. The message instructed residents to "boil your tap water for 1 minute and let it cool before you drink it, use it in food preparation, make ice, brush your teeth, or wash your dishes." The announcement said the order remains in effect "until further notice."

The moderator read that the detection came from routine testing. The message emphasized that E. coli is a bacterium that "can make you ill" and posed a special risk for infants, young children, some elderly people and people with severely compromised immune systems. Residents in the listed towns were urged to follow the boil-water instructions and to avoid using tap water for sensitive uses until health authorities lift the advisory.

Local customers seeking more information were directed to contact Connecticut Water Company for updates; the announcement did not specify a date for lifting the order or provide further details about the cause of the contamination.