E. coli found in water at trailer park in Houlton

HOULTON – E. coli bacteria found in drinking water at the Houlton Mobile Home Park this week prompted an order that residents boil their water.

Shelly Bouchard, who lives at the park with her husband and two children, learned Wednesday night about the warning. She said Friday that park residents were told not to drink the water, not to shower with it and not to do dishes or laundry without first boiling the water.

Residents were supplied Thursday with bottled water, she said. Some also were getting water from relatives and from where they work.

There are about 40 mobile homes at the park, but some aren’t occupied. Potential sources for the bacteria include leaky septic systems, animal or human waste, and decaying organic matter. Side effects of drinking water with high levels of E. coli can include vomiting, diarrhea and nausea.The park is connected to the municipal sewer system.

Larry Gervais of the state Drinking Water Program office in Presque Isle, said Friday that his office was informed on Wednesday morning that E. coli tests were positive and immediately issued a boil order.

He said the chlorinator for the park’s water system also had not been working at an acceptable level. The water system at the park is privately owned and supplied from a well. It is not connected to the municipal system.

The park was recently sold to Firehawk Corp., the third owner since December. Steven Fernald of Bangor, a representative of Firehawk, said Friday that he was told that the problem might have been caused by broken water pipes. He said efforts were under way to rectify the problem.

About seven or eight years ago, the Houlton Water Co. provided water service to the park, according to John Clark, HWC general manager. He said the municipal company was disconnected from the park system and a new private well was put in because the owner at that time was concerned about the high cost of supplying water to the park.

Clark said pipes in the park system are worn out and leak very badly, which is why the water bill was so high. The leaks are so bad, he said Friday, that the park’s pumps can’t maintain pressure. That could allow groundwater and contaminants to seep into the pipes.

Park owners have asked if they could reconnect to the municipal water system. Clark said that might be possible, but the original supply line to the park – about two-thirds of a mile of 6-inch pipe – would have to be drained, flushed and cleaned with chlorine.

In addition, taps at each of the mobile homes would have to be tested. “There’s no contamination present in our system,” he said.

One plan being considered is to use temporary piping that would be placed above ground from the municipal system to the trailers. But Clark said that before that is done, there would have to be an agreement to pay any costs incurred by the water company.

“I don’t want my customers paying for this,” he said.

Park owners have told Clark that they might install a new water system this summer.