Sean Kimmons
After traces of E. coli bacteria were discovered in one of the Hays CISD wells earlier this month, district officials announced Friday that the well has been disinfected and cleared of the bacteria.
Texas State’s Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center, which tests the district’s two wells monthly, found the bacteria in the well’s raw water supply, Hays CISD spokesperson Julie Jerome said.
The well was then “super chlorinated” and a second sample was tested. On Wednesday, the center determined that the sample was clear of the bacteria, Jerome said.
“At no time was the drinking water affected,” said Jerome, adding that raw water hasn’t gone through a treatment process to become drinking water.
Before the well can be reopened, the district has to obtain approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, slated to be received early next week, Jerome said.
The district provides drinking water to about 3,000 students and adults, which includes Hays High School, Hays Academy and Barton Middle School, Jerome said.
Officials believe runoff caused by heavy rainstorms may have contributed to the contamination.
Environmental permit specialist John Dupnik, of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, hasn’t heard of any other E.coli contamination in wells recently, but said it can happen occasionally.
“When we get storm events, runoff across cow pastures can pick up bacteria and go into the creeks that recharge the aquifer,” he said.
Once the bacteria was found, the Hays district sent out notices, as required by Texas law, advising people of the contamination and to watch for E. coli symptoms, Jerome said.
E. coli is a bacteria that causes severe cramps, nausea, headaches, diarrhea and is the leading cause of bloody diarrhea. Symptoms can be worse in children and elderly people, especially those who have another illness.
“The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water,” the notice stated. “If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.”
