The one positive sample was collected at a police station at 1034 N. Mount St. in Sandtown-Winchester, one of three locations where previous tests came back positive for E. coli and coliform bacteria, prompting the city to issue a Boil Water Advisory Monday for a 56-square-block area of ​​West Baltimore. UPDATES: As of Sunday, we have received 25 water test results – all negative except for one at the Police Department at 1034 N. Mount St. in the immediate impact area. @BaltimoreDPW will test until we’re sure the water is safe to drink. pic.twitter.com/FT1DqjkCHb — Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) September 7, 2022 A fire station in the affected area that had previously tested positive was negative, Mitchell said. For now, approximately 1,500 homes and businesses in the affected area will remain under a Boil Water Required advisory. There was an advisory in effect for a much larger area stretching from Bolton Hill to the northeast, Rosemont to the northwest and parts of southwest Baltimore County.
But Mayor Brandon Scott lifted that precautionary advice Wednesday night. He said during a press conference that after testing water samples, the city had received permission from the Maryland Department of the Environment to lift the precautionary advisory for a portion of the city and part of Baltimore County that initially fell into the boil water zone. . #BREAKING: NEW MAP FROM @BaltimoreDPW The shaded area is where the boil water warning LIKED Black square = need to boil water (impacted area) Inside dotted line = boiling water [email protected] asks EVERYONE TO RINSE THEIR WATER FOR 15 [email protected] pic.twitter.com/yq0qHN6Fnv — Annie Rose Ramos (@AnnieRoseNews) September 8, 2022 “We expect more test results later this afternoon and early tomorrow,” he said. Meanwhile, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works, also known as DPW, is asking everyone who remains under a boil water advisory to flush all water in their home for 15 minutes. Scott apologized for the inconvenience caused to Baltimore residents by the contaminated water supply. He said everyone in the city would be given a 25% discount on their water bills in the next cycle. People living in an area subject to a boil water advisory should heat their water to a “rolling boil” for at least one minute to kill any bacteria. This will make the water safe for the following activities: drinking, brushing teeth, washing fruit and vegetables, preparing baby food and milk, making ice, serving pets, washing dishes and preparing food. The DPW is still investigating the cause of the contamination by conducting leak tests and valve assessments, testing chlorine levels in the water and investigating any construction projects that may have affected the city’s water system, Mitchell said. Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, Mitchell offered a more detailed timeline of when the initial samples were collected. As part of routine testing, 19 samples were taken on Friday, September 2. The water from Fire Station 8 at 1503 W. Lafayette Ave. came back positive on Saturday, Sept. 3, which the city reported to the Maryland Department of the Environment, Mitchell said. The result prompted officials to conduct additional tests upstream and downstream of the site on Sunday, September 4, at two police stations. Both came back positive. Mitchell said DPW workers hope to complete testing at 90 locations throughout the city and surrounding counties by the end of Thursday. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, E. coli is a group of bacteria found in the environment, food, and intestines of humans and animals. The agency said most E. coli are harmless, but others can make you sick.
Some strains can cause diarrhea, while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, and other illnesses. On Wednesday, the city distributed bottled water at three locations starting at 9 a.m.:

Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School Lansdowne Library Middle Branch Park

Deputy Chief James Wallace, of the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, said the city has distributed 53,000 gallons of water to residents since Monday. Baltimore City Health Commissioner, Dr. Letitia Dzirasa, said officials are investigating two cases of gastrointestinal illness among people living in the advisory area in West Baltimore, but it has not yet been confirmed whether those people have an E. coli infection. Annie Rose Ramos Annie Rose Ramos joined the WJZ team in October 2019.