Press release:
Several of the initial water samples collected this week from private drinking water wells located near Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road -- east of Route 63, and Lewiston Road south of Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road -- have confirmed bacteriological contamination of coliform bacteria and E. coli. Residents who had their water tested and confirmed positive have been notified at this time. These organisms can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants and people with compromised immune systems. Residents in this area who are experiencing these symptoms should contact their medical provider.
Although the contamination has been confirmed, the exact origin and extent cannot be determined without further analysis, the Genesee County Health Department will assist the Department of Environmental Conservation in this process in the near future.
Impacted residents are urged to continue to follow the instructions below until their water can be confirmed safe to drink. With the extent of the contamination unknown at this time, re-occurrence of contamination is possible.
If you are living in the identified area and would like your well water tested, please contact the Genesee County Health Department at (585) 344-2580, ext. 5525. There is no charge for this testing.
Who is responsible for all
Who is responsible for all this contamination?..Who is paying for all this testing..?
Mark, The article states that
Mark,
The article states that the cause (responsibility) has not been determined yet. As for paying for all the testing, we are, the taxpayers since the testing agency is the County Health Department.
In that particular locale,
In that particular locale, I'm laying odds on it being due to Lamb Farms.
6 years ago, we were living on Maltby Road. My daughter got a case of e.coli... The bad one. If she hadn't had a nurse for a parent, it is highly likely that she would have died from it, or had kidney damage, at best.
Health Department tested our well, and it was found to be contaminated. They also tested a few neighbors, and we were all told to boil any water we used. This sort of thing happens when a local field has a 15-inch layer of raw cow manure spread over it (and the aquifer below it)
Eventually their poor practices will end up killing someone. It's just a matter of time...