LaCrosse water still under boil advisory

A state Department of Health-ordered boil advisory for LaCrosse water users is still in effect as of Tuesday afternoon. Officials detected the presence of E. coli bacteria during routine monitoring.

The department issued the advisory last Thursday which urged residents to boil tap water at least one full minute if they use it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, mixing baby formula, dishwashing or for ice.

Michael Baker, Whitman County’s environmental health director, said Tuesday he had not received any reports of E. Coli-related illnesses.

Mark Steward, water quality specialist for the state health department, said inspections have yet to pinpoint a cause for the contamination.

Don Keeney, LaCrosse water manager, said the E. coli probably stemmed from repair work on the town’s water mains. Keeney said this is the first E. coli outbreak for LaCrosse in his 26 years as water manager.

Steward said a health department inspection also found a leaky seal on a wellhead that could be the point of contamination.

Keeney chlorinated the water supply and flushed the mains with the chlorinated water to counter the E. coli.

After the chlorinated water is run out of the system, LaCrosse water will then be tested at Anatek labs in Moscow for the all-clear. Keeney estimated the boil order will be lifted later this week.