SANTA FE – The New Mexico Environment Department's (NMED) Drinking Water Bureau (DWB) is confirming that a "boil water advisory" is required for the Cochiti Elementary School in Sandoval County.
Cochiti Elementary School was required to issue the advisory on January 12, 2018 after bacteriological contamination (E. coli) was detected in repeat drinking water samples from the water Cochiti Elementary School's distribution Cochiti Elementary School. New Mexico Drinking Water Regulations require Cochiti Elementary School to notify their water system consumers of this finding as soon as practical but no later than 24 hours after the system is notified of the confirmation of the violation.
Cochiti Elementary School is a non-transient, non-community public water system that serves approximately 260 users. This advisory applies to the drinking water from the Cochiti Elementary School, and does notextend to any other surrounding water systems.
Cochiti Elementary School users are advised to boil the water for one minute (3 minutes if above 6,500 feet in elevation) before drinking, cooking, washing fruits and vegetables, feeding a baby, brushing teeth, preparing drinks, making ice, and providing drinking water for pets.
The presence of E. coli in water indicates that the water may have been in contact with sewage or animal wastes, and could contain disease-causing organisms. Most strains of E. coli are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals. However, a positive test for E. coli in the drinking water supply may indicate the presence of dangerous strains of E. coli or other disease-causing organisms. These types of organisms may cause severe gastrointestinal illness and, in rare cases, death. Children, the elderly and immuno-compromised individuals are at an increased risk for illness.
The NMED Drinking Water Bureau will provide compliance oversight and offer technical assistance to the water Cochiti Elementary School and will require the Cochiti Elementary School to continue to test the water until no further threat of contamination remains.
For more facts about New Mexico's Boil Water Advisories in English and Spanish please visit: https://www.env.nm.gov/drinking_water/boil-water-advisories/ and for more information on today's announcement please call NMED's Drinking Water Bureau PWSS Manager Joe Martinez at 505-476-8635.
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Cochiti Elementary School. Approx. 260 users urged to boil water prior to drinking. More details about boil water advisories in English and Spanish can be found on the DWB's webpage at: https://www.env.nm.gov/drinking_water/boil-water-advisories/. Cochiti Elementary School is a non-transient non-community water system located in Sandoval County and serves approximately 260 users. http://bit.ly/2ekQRR9 #NM, #NMED