Customers are urged to Boil Water Prior to Drinking
 
(Santa Fe, N.M.) –The New Mexico Environment Department’s Drinking Water Bureau issued a “Boil Water Advisory” for the Jal Water Supply System.
 
NMED issued the advisory on August 14, 2013 after bacteriological contamination (E. coli) was detected in drinking water sample from the system’s Well #1. NMED requires the Jal Water Supply System to notify water system consumers of this finding. Jal Water Supply System serves approximately 2000 residents and is located 45 miles South of Hobbs, NM in Lea County.
 
This advisory only applies to the drinking water from the Jal Water Supply System, and does not extend to any other surrounding water systems.
 
Consumers of the Jal Water Supply System are advised to boil the water for five minutes before drinking, cooking, dishwashing and bathing. 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 technical assistance to the water system and Jal Water Supply System will continue to test the water until no further threat of contamination remains.