Water might not seem as important due to its availability; but when a whole county experiences contamination, this can result in serious concerns for everyone. As such, a recent pipe leak led to 150,000 Michigan residents being told to boil drinking water due to contamination.
Pipe Leak Water Contamination
According to Newsweek, a pipe leak in Macomb County resulted in 150,000 Michigan residents being told to boil tap water before consumption. The leak happened to a 36-inch water pipe in Macomb County, which led to water disruption and contamination.
The results of this pipe leak included flooding of nearby roads as the pipes experienced a significant drop in water pressure. This led to residents of four Macomb County communities as well as one Oakland County city being given the advisory.
As noted by CBS News, the advisory was given by the Great Lakes Water Authority and it said that the boiling of water before consumption should be followed by the residents of Chesterfield Town to Rochester, including the Lennox Township, New Haven, and Macomb Township.
The GLWA outlines that the boiling of water should be done for all usages, including drinking, dishwashing, making ice, brushing teeth, and food preparation. However, this wouldn't apply to bottled water as long as it was kept in good condition.
Water Contamination Risks
Newsweek explains the different risks of contamination due to the pipe leak, starting by explaining that due to lost pressure, bacteria might find their way into the water system through small holes in the pipes.
These holes would effectively let groundwater enter the water system due to the low pressure. When this happens, there could be a wide range of contaminants that's now introduced into the system.
Drinking directly from the tap after a loss of pressure introduces bacteria into the pipeline and could cause illness. By boiling the water, residents will be able to sterilize the bacteria and other organisms found inside the water.
Potential Dangers of Groundwater
Groundwater can include certain pathogens including E.coli, entercocci, and fecal streptococci among others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), E.coli symptoms can include vomiting, harsh stomach cramps, and even bloody diarrhea.
Most people infected with E.coli would experience fever; and although the infections can be mild, for others, it could result in life-threatening dangers. The more serious results can include pneumonia, respiratory illness, and UTI.
Frank Viviano, the Macomb Township Supervisor, shared how local stores were out of water since people started buying volumes enough to last them for a few days. As per the advisory, two rounds of quality testing will happen at least 24 hours apart for them to tell whether the water has improved or not.
The GLWA is expected to notify the public once the water situation has been resolved for impacted residents.
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