Towns asked to boil water before use

Hartford (WTNH) - Don't drink the water, at least not until you boil it. That's the warning that went out late Wednesday afternoon. Residents in several communities are being told to boil their water because of contamination concern.

The towns and cities affected are Hartford, East Hartford, West Hartford, Glastonbury, Portland, Windsor, South Windsor and Bloomfield; this also includes parts of East Granby and Windsor Locks.

"There were enough seen in samples to raise a concern," said Stephen Pratt of the MDC.

They are the size of a pin head; the black specks that look like tad poles have made it past the water filters at the MDC. And now the MDC is asking ten communities from Hartford to Portland to boil their water for one minute before they drink it.

"They are free, living multi-cellular organisms and are usually found in raw water sources, occasionally they are found post-filtration," said Pratt.

MDC said after reporting their findings, the state health department issued the boil advisory. It's because of what they are calling copepods and rotifers that have been found in the water. The health department said while there are no known health risks to humans, they are asking people to boil the water as a precaution.

"We are not sure at 100 percent so there for we are taking the extra precaution, to make sure there is no health risk associated with this, even though we have been assured by the CDC," said Pratt.

The boil advisory is changing the way families do business.

"We use a lot," said Therese Horn of West Hartford. "We wash our food with it, I drink a lot of water (64 ounces a day) and the kids are bathing, brushing their teeth."

Horn has three boys and is now serving them juice from the store, but she has been drinking the tap water.

"I have been drinking the water all day and all day yesterday and since the water wasn't just contaminated today and I'm okay, I just don't know how bad it is," said Horn.

Updated information can be found on the District's website. If you have any questions, please call the Metropolitan District at 278-7850 extension 3600.