Boil water advisory in Union County lifted day after E. Coli found in drinking water

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — The boil water advisory in Union County has been lifted more than 24 hours after E. Coli was found in the drinking water.

Officials said several water quality tests confirmed E. Coli was no longer present in the water system.

E. coli is a standard test that all water systems are required to do every month and if it is found, it can be a health risk.

Union County Public Schools were closed Thursday and Friday because of the boil water advisory.

Initially, officials said the boil order did not impact the City of Monroe, the Town of Marshville, the Town of Wingate, the Town of Unionville and the Town of Fairview because they are on their own water systems. It also did not impact residents who had a well.

County leaders acknowledged communication problems with residents when the initial advisory went out, saying their website was down for quite some time Thursday morning.

Officials said they found E. coli in a water sample that was collected near the intersection of U.S. 74 and Gray Fox Road in Indian Trail. Public works was notified late Tuesday.

A second sample was collected from that same location and 11 other samples were taken in the area, including upstream and downstream from the location.

Results from the second sample at the location did not have the presence of E. coli, but two of the 12 water samples collected in the repeat testing showed the presence of total coliform, which is a group of bacteria that could indicate the presence of pathogens.

Officials said they let Union County Public Schools know first then notified other customers.

A local business owner said the coronavirus has already cut into his earnings and said being forced to shut down two days in a row due to the E. Coli scare would have set him back.

“I love to work. I love my business. We’re a little mom-and-pop shop. We’re back on track. We’re back in business. We’re ready to rock and roll,” said Steven Sileo, owner of Sileo’s New York Deli.

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The county said it conducted more testing, and it received the next sample of water Friday. Officials did not believe there was a mass contamination in the county and that it was isolated to that one area.

Officials said they are still investigating why that one sample tested positive for E. Coli.

“Union County is currently processing in the general area and other areas in the countywide system,” Junior Honeycutt, with Union County Public Works, said. “Customers should expect to remain under the boil water advisory at least through Friday evening.”

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