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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 3:28 p.m., Friday, July 28, 2006

Testing clears Waiahole Valley of E. coli threat

Advertiser Staff

Waiahole Valley residents were cleared to begin drinking their water today after new test results showed no signs of fecal coliform or the E. coli bacteria, state officials said.

Residents of 140 Waiahole residential and agricultural lots were yesterday directed to boil any tap water used for drinking or cooking after the bacteria was discovered in water distribution pipes. The Escherichia coli bacteria is often an indicator of potential fecal contamination in water, and its presence at any level triggers an immediate boil-water notice, officials said.

Follow-up tests conducted today showed no sign of the bacteria. Officials are still not sure what caused the initial positive test results that prompted the order to boil water in the area. Department of Health officials said they'll continue to monitor the Waiahole wells and distribution system and work other state agencies to guard against future problems.