Haines’ tap water safe, E. coli detected may have been false positive

Haines, Alaska. (Creative Commons photo by Alan Vernon)
Haines, Alaska. (Creative Commons photo by Alan Vernon)

Haines‬ has safe tap water again, and E. coli previously detected in it may have been a false positive.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation on Friday rescinded a boil-water notice issued Wednesday because new tests showed no E. coli bacteria in the water system.

The bacteria can cause diarrhea, vomiting and more serious symptoms.

Haines Borough Manager David Sosa got the good news Friday afternoon.

“The test results on all the samples came back negative. And as a result, we received a lifting of the boil-water notice that was posted by DEC on the 25th,” he says.

The notice affected homes, offices, restaurants and bars. Some residents turned to bottled water or springs around town.

Officials said more positive test results would require flushing all or part of the municipal water system. That could have taken several days.

“We know that they’ll be some additional testing for us but as far as the residents of Haines are concerned, they can drink their water. And we’ll just continue to work with DEC to make sure we’re taking all the steps necessary to provide for public health,” he says.

Haines residents were told to boil their water for two minutes, which kills the bacteria. Notices were handed out door-to-door.

Sosa says he wasn’t told why the earlier sample tested positive for E. coli. It could have been a false positive.

Haines is a borough of about 2,400 people in northern Lynn Canal.

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