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Beach awaits water results
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NEWS-TIMES
BY SHANNON KEMP AND MIKE SHUTAK
ATLANTIC BEACH — Kevin Collins of the Monkey Bar restaurant in Atlantic Station grabbed a stack of bottled water to put in the cooler Thursday in time for the lunch crowd.
He, like other restaurants in the beach community, must serve bottled water and food on paper plates as a result of a water advisory the town sent out Wednesday alerting citizens to take precautions after tests showed total fecal coliform had been detected in the town's water supply.
“Our tea is being brewed with bottled water,” said co-owner Terri Stallings, “and all of our orders are being served on to-go plates.”
All water system customers – restaurants, hotels, businesses and residences – are under the advisory that remains in effect until further water sample test results are in this afternoon.
That means boiling water for at least a minute, using bagged ice for drinks, bottled water, plastic cutlery and paper products to serve food, as they don’t need to be washed, according to Troy Dees, County Environmental Health supervisor.
“They (restaurants) can still wash, rinse and sanitize cooking pans, but dishes and glasses are too much and they have to use paper and plastic,” he said.
Health workers started Thursday informing restaurants and hotels about the precautions to take, Mr. Dees said.
Mark Carll, manager of The Crab’s Claw restaurant at 201 West Atlantic Blvd., said Thursday they’re taking the extra precautions needed to protect their customers and staff.
“We’re only serving stuff (drinks) from bottles and we’re not using ice made locally,” he said. “The safety of the customers, the staff and the restaurant come first.”
Those in hotels who need to rinse off or shower must limit their exposure to water.
“If you have to rinse or bathe, do it quickly and try not to ingest it,” Mr. Dees said.
The advisory urges people to boil water from the town’s water supply used for human consumption, including drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, making ice and washing hands, for one minute. Infants below 6 months of age and pregnant women should use an alternate water supply, such as bottled water, whenever possible.
Meanwhile, the County Health Department said Thursday it has received no reports of anyone becoming ill as a result of the advisory, nor has the department received any reports from Carteret General Hospital.
Fecal coliform is bacteria found in the waste of warm-blooded animals. While coliform aren’t harmful themselves, they’re used by the state as an indicator of other, potentially harmful bacteria.
The bacteria was found in three of four water samples taken from four different locations around town and sent to the N.C. Department of Environmental Health as part of a routine water testing. Pete Allen, town manager, said the town has never had a problem like this before.
“We think it might be a lab problem,” he said Thursday morning, “but we don’t know. We’ve taken some new samples and should have the results in 24 hours.”
The town’s water supply comes from five or six wells located in different areas around town.
If the advisory moves to the next level – a water notice – more severe steps will be taken. Under a notice, the health department will have to close all the restaurants, “but that hasn’t happened,” Mr. Dees said.
The town sent four test samples of water Tuesday to the state Department of Environmental Health (DEH) as part of routine water testing. Three of them came back positive; one for fecal coliform, another for total coliform, another type of coliform that is also harmless, but may be an indicator of potentially harmful bacteria.
The sample positive for fecal coliform came from a site near the Soundside Motel at 309 East Fort Macon Road. The two tests that were positive for total coliform came from sites near Peppertree Resort Villas and Burt’s Surf Shop at 304 West Fort Macon Road. The fourth test, taken near The Crab’s Claw Restaurant at 201 West Atlantic Blvd., was negative for any coliform.
Steve West, engineer for the Public Water Supply Section for the DEH Wilmington regional office, said the town took nine additional samples Thursday.
“Regulations require a town to take three follow-up samples per positive sample,” he said. “One is taken at the exact location as the positive sample. The other two are taken on either side of it within five service connections.”
The samples are being tested at the water and sewer plant in Morehead City since Atlantic Beach does not have the capability. The health department has also offered its lab for testing. The test results will be ready by 2 p.m. Friday.
Mr. West said the results, if any come back positive for coliform, will determine how big an area has been affected.
For those who are concerned about the advisory there is information on the health departments’ Web site: www.carteretcountyhealth.org. There is also a link to the community water supply branch, which regulates Atlantic Beach’s water.
“Between them (Web sites) and Atlantic Beach, we are trying to get the word out and calm peoples nerves,” Mr. Dees said.
He said the department has received plenty of calls for people being concerned.
The environmental health division is the agency that inspects restaurants and hotels in the county.
He, like other restaurants in the beach community, must serve bottled water and food on paper plates as a result of a water advisory the town sent out Wednesday alerting citizens to take precautions after tests showed total fecal coliform had been detected in the town's water supply.
“Our tea is being brewed with bottled water,” said co-owner Terri Stallings, “and all of our orders are being served on to-go plates.”
All water system customers – restaurants, hotels, businesses and residences – are under the advisory that remains in effect until further water sample test results are in this afternoon.
That means boiling water for at least a minute, using bagged ice for drinks, bottled water, plastic cutlery and paper products to serve food, as they don’t need to be washed, according to Troy Dees, County Environmental Health supervisor.
“They (restaurants) can still wash, rinse and sanitize cooking pans, but dishes and glasses are too much and they have to use paper and plastic,” he said.
Health workers started Thursday informing restaurants and hotels about the precautions to take, Mr. Dees said.
Mark Carll, manager of The Crab’s Claw restaurant at 201 West Atlantic Blvd., said Thursday they’re taking the extra precautions needed to protect their customers and staff.
“We’re only serving stuff (drinks) from bottles and we’re not using ice made locally,” he said. “The safety of the customers, the staff and the restaurant come first.”
Those in hotels who need to rinse off or shower must limit their exposure to water.
“If you have to rinse or bathe, do it quickly and try not to ingest it,” Mr. Dees said.
The advisory urges people to boil water from the town’s water supply used for human consumption, including drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, making ice and washing hands, for one minute. Infants below 6 months of age and pregnant women should use an alternate water supply, such as bottled water, whenever possible.
Meanwhile, the County Health Department said Thursday it has received no reports of anyone becoming ill as a result of the advisory, nor has the department received any reports from Carteret General Hospital.
Fecal coliform is bacteria found in the waste of warm-blooded animals. While coliform aren’t harmful themselves, they’re used by the state as an indicator of other, potentially harmful bacteria.
The bacteria was found in three of four water samples taken from four different locations around town and sent to the N.C. Department of Environmental Health as part of a routine water testing. Pete Allen, town manager, said the town has never had a problem like this before.
“We think it might be a lab problem,” he said Thursday morning, “but we don’t know. We’ve taken some new samples and should have the results in 24 hours.”
The town’s water supply comes from five or six wells located in different areas around town.
If the advisory moves to the next level – a water notice – more severe steps will be taken. Under a notice, the health department will have to close all the restaurants, “but that hasn’t happened,” Mr. Dees said.
The town sent four test samples of water Tuesday to the state Department of Environmental Health (DEH) as part of routine water testing. Three of them came back positive; one for fecal coliform, another for total coliform, another type of coliform that is also harmless, but may be an indicator of potentially harmful bacteria.
The sample positive for fecal coliform came from a site near the Soundside Motel at 309 East Fort Macon Road. The two tests that were positive for total coliform came from sites near Peppertree Resort Villas and Burt’s Surf Shop at 304 West Fort Macon Road. The fourth test, taken near The Crab’s Claw Restaurant at 201 West Atlantic Blvd., was negative for any coliform.
Steve West, engineer for the Public Water Supply Section for the DEH Wilmington regional office, said the town took nine additional samples Thursday.
“Regulations require a town to take three follow-up samples per positive sample,” he said. “One is taken at the exact location as the positive sample. The other two are taken on either side of it within five service connections.”
The samples are being tested at the water and sewer plant in Morehead City since Atlantic Beach does not have the capability. The health department has also offered its lab for testing. The test results will be ready by 2 p.m. Friday.
Mr. West said the results, if any come back positive for coliform, will determine how big an area has been affected.
For those who are concerned about the advisory there is information on the health departments’ Web site: www.carteretcountyhealth.org. There is also a link to the community water supply branch, which regulates Atlantic Beach’s water.
“Between them (Web sites) and Atlantic Beach, we are trying to get the word out and calm peoples nerves,” Mr. Dees said.
He said the department has received plenty of calls for people being concerned.
The environmental health division is the agency that inspects restaurants and hotels in the county.
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