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Merrill Creek Reservoir
Jane A. Bullis
Administrator
34 Merrill Creek Road Washington, NJ 07882 Phone: (908) 454-3339
Fax: (908) 454-2747
Cell: (609) 932-8395
jbullis@merrillcreek.com
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Tests Show Coliform Bacteria in Merrill Creek Visitor Center Water
Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Even though this
was not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened
and what we are doing to correct the situation.
We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. We took
12 samples for coliform bacteria during 2011. One of those samples showed the
presence of coliform bacteria. The standard is that no more than [1 sample per
month/5 percent of our samples] may do so.
What should I do?
• You do not need to use an alternative (e.g., bottled) water supply.
• People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly
may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water
from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk
of infection by microbes are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline
at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
This is not an immediate risk. Usually, coliforms are a sign that there could
be a problem with the treatment or distribution system (pipes). Whenever we
detect coliform bacteria in any sample, we do follow-up testing to see if other
bacteria of greater concern, such as fecal coliform or E. coli, are present.
We did not find any of these bacteria in our subsequent testing. If we had,
we would have notified you immediately. However, we are still finding coliforms
in the drinking water.
Coliforms are bacteria which are naturally present in the environment and are
used as an indicator that other, potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present.
Coliforms were found in more samples than allowed and this was a warning of
potential problems.
What is being done?
The well was chlorinated on December 21, 2011. The holding tank and well were
then flushed on December 22 and 30, 2011 and re-sampled on December 31, 2011.
We are still detecting coliform bacteria. We will inform you when our sampling
shows that no bacteria are present. We anticipate resolving the problem by January
06, 2012.
For more information, please contact Jane Bullis at (908) 454-3339 or 34 Merrill
Creek Road Washington, NJ 07882.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water,
especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example,
people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this
by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
This notice is being sent to you by Merrill Creek Visitor Center. State Water
System ID#: 2110321.
Date distributed: 1/6/2012.
